Ten soldiers and one officer has been killed by unknown gunmen after troops of the Nigerian Army encountered an attack during a routine operational task in Benue State.
This was disclosed on Thursday night in a statement titled ‘Unprovoked attack on troops on stabilization operations in Benue State’, released by the Nigerian Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Yerima.
Yerima said the troops were initially declared missing but their bodies were later found in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state by a search and rescue team.
Part of the statement read, “Nigerian Army troops operating in Benue State came under attack while on routine operational task.
“The troops comprising one officer and 10 soldiers were initially declared missing which prompted the deployment of a joint search and rescue team comprising NA troops and personnel of Operation Whirl Stroke.
“The search and rescue team, unfortunately, found all the missing troops dead in Konshisha LGA of Benue State.”
However, the statement added that the remains of the slain soldiers have been evacuated and efforts are ongoing to arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of this crime.
“The NA under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru remains resolute in ensuring stability in Benue State as well as other parts of the country that are affected by the activities of criminal gangs,” the army stated.
