The Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse has pledged the support of the traditional rulers and  entire people of Benue State to the Nigerian Army as it begins its ‘Operation Ayem Akpatuma’ (Cat Race) in the state.

The traditional ruler, who stated this while receiving the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai on Monday, expressed hope that the exercise would bring back peace to the Benue people who have suffered the onslaught of herdsmen.

“We welcome the exercise. We believe it will help peace to return to Benue which has suffered series of attacks from herdsmen,” Prof. Ayatse said.

Recalling the ugly clashes between the Army and Tiv people at Zaki Biam in the past, the traditional ruler said his people were apprehensive about the exercise and called for adequate enlightenment about the exercise from the military authorities.

He lamented that the herdsmen attacks which affected Guma, Logo, Gwer West, Makurdi, Kwande, Katsina – Ala and Agatu Local Government Areas of the state have resulted in the loss of lives, property and farmlands.

Earlier in his remarks, Lt. Gen. Buratai informed the Tor Tiv that he was in the state to formally launch the exercise meant to train personnel to assist civil authorities in tackling internal security challenges.

The army chief explained that ‘Ayem Akpatuma’ was an exercise and not an operation but warned that anyone caught threatening the peace of the state would face the full wrath of the law.

The Army is expected to also conduct the exercise in Nasarawa, Kaduna, Taraba, Kogi and Niger states which had witnessed farmers/herdsmen clashes and other criminal activities in the past.