The Nigerian Army has arrested 24 suspected Boko Haram members operating as Fulani herdsmen in Auchi community of Edo State.
NAN reports that the Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, Alhaji Aliru Momoh who addressed newsmen in his palace in Auchi, headquarters of Estako-West local government area of the state, said the commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Engineering (NICOHO) near Auchi, informed him (Otaru) of the arrest of the suspected insurgents.
“I had audience with the commandant. He informed me about what they are doing and the arrest of some 24 suspected members of Boko Haram operating under the guise of Fulani herdsmen in the community. The commandant also informed me that the suspects would be transferred to Benin,’’ said the Otaru.
He commended the commandant for taking proactive steps to fight the suspected insurgents in the forest, adding “the issue of security needs careful planning and execution.”
The Otaru, who described the activities of the herdsmen in the area as worrisome, said: “We have asked farmers, especially the women, to stop going to the farms for now. We gave them some grants to enable them to engage in petty trading in the mean time, to avoid the incessant attacks on them. The traditional council is collaborating with the army, security agencies, and some vigilante groups, and we have recently incorporated the hunters to help to evolve lasting solutions to the problem,’’ he added.
