News Editor
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Sue for calm over death of suspected cult leader
By David Odama
Youths of Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, have commended the Commander and troops of Operation Whirl Stroke and other security agencies over the massive kinetic operations ongoing in the general area, to rid the council and its environs of crime and criminality.
Operating under the umbrella of Apa Youths Progressive Vanguard, the young men and women predicated their commendation on the massive arrests of suspected kidnappers, cultists, and other criminal elements disturbing the peace and security of the council.
In a statement signed by the National President, Mr John Odaudu, and National Secretary, Sunday Ebo, the youth group regretted the death of one Ochowechi Ernest owoicho who, investigations revealed, was suspected to be the leader of a deadly cult group in the council.
The youth vanguard further noted that facts on the ground are to the effect that Ernest was neither beaten nor tortured during interrogation by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke.
“According to our independent findings, Ernest was a sickle cell patient, whose death at the council’s General Hospital did suggest torture, or anything close to it, as there were no visible marks to validate such narratives being peddled in some quarters”, the statement reads.
The group, therefore, called on the general public to remain calm in the face of the ongoing military actions, which are executed with strict adherence to the rules of engagement in armed conflicts.
This is as it maintained that the scores of kidnappers killed, arrest of cultists, and others was an indication that troops knew their targets, hence we’re focused and determined to deny them freedom of action within the Apa general area.
According to the youths enjoined, the Commander and troops will stay the course and not be distracted by the wrongheaded narrative promoted by a few individuals who do not mean well for the peace-loving people of Apa.
The statement reads in part: “We have noted with concern attempts by some misguided individuals to demoralise the military through a sponsored campaign of human rights abuse, and alleged killing of a youth (Ernest).
“We make bold to state that Operation Whirl Stroke, in all its operational outings, does not detract from the standard operating procedure (SOP), rules of engagements, and other manuals issued by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the prosecution of armed conflicts.
“To this end, we call on all well-meaning Apa sons and daughters, young and old, to rally support for our troops, whose sustained aggression has continued to yield positive outcomes.
“Independent investigations by our team revealed that scores of kidnappers, who held sway along the Apa/Agatu axis, have been killed, dozens apprehended, while many others have fled the general area.
“While regretting the unfortunate incident, we call on our people see the larger picture, which is the protection of lives and property of our people, and the restoration of security, peace and public safety.
“The ongoing clampdown on criminal elements, we insist, is in the collective interest of our people, and all hands must be on deck to ensure its overall success.
“Our troops are given the best that any Military the world over can offer, in terms of training and professionalism, hence understand the game of identification, isolation, and engagement, when it comes to internal security operations of this nature.
“We insist that the glory of Apa land, known for its hospitality, peaceful coexistence, industry, and rich tradition, must be restored by all legitimate means, as exemplified in the ongoing kinetic operations.
“We further hasten to add that security has now assumed a whole-of-society approach, hence the urgent need for us to support our Military, and other security agencies in their quest to rid Apa and its surroundings of criminal elements, whose only preoccupation is bloodletting”.
Meanwhile, the group has tasked the Apa Local Government chairman, comrade Adams ochega ogwola, to stamp his authority by providing the needed assistance, including mobilizing human intelligence (HUMINT), to ensure the success of the ongoing operation.
“We will not concluded without calling on the executive chairman of our dear council, to take charge as the chief security officer of Apa Local Governments, with enormous grassroots power to galvanise actionable information for our Military.
“No doubt, the chairman has been doing his best, but we are using this opportunity to charge him to do more, especially in the area of taming cultism, which seems to be rife in our land.
“We urge the council boss to establish, or provide the needed resources for communities and clans to establish neighbourhood security platforms, which will help to monitor movements and activities of strangers.
“The idea is to gather real-time local intelligence while also providing round-the-clock surveillance around the respective communities that constitute Apa council, including border areas.
