The Nigerian Army has extended exercise AYEM AKPATUMA (Cat Race) in Taraba State for another two months.
Army spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu said this in a statement on Monday.
He said the extension has becomes necessary “in order to further consolidate on the gains achieved so far and due to calls by well-meaning Nigerians.”
He said the extension “will facilitate the Nigerian Army’s effort of ridding the affected areas of militants and other criminal elements.”
Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA was flagged off on 20th February, 2018 to expose troops to the technique of internal security operations in conjunction with other security agencies, and to curtail herdsmen/ farmers conflicts, activities of bandits, armed robbers and kidnappers in Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba and Kaduna state.
According to Chukwu, the exercise was also aimed at further sustaining Nigerian Army’s constitutional roles of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria as well as aiding the civil authority to maintain peace and security. Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA.
He said the exercise has recorded “tremendous successes in spite of challenges.”
Chukwu urged residents of Taraba State to cooperate with the troops by giving “useful and timely information to enable them carry out their constitutional duties effectively.”
In a related development, soldiers deployed for the exercise in the State and personnel of the Nigeria Police have arrested criminals operating in Mayo Ndaga of Taraba State.
Brig. Gen. Chukwu in another statement said: “Items recovered from one of the suspects Amos Titus- 35, include roofing sheets, bed and locally made pistol.
“Other suspects Palat Jafainal- 20 and Kingsley Benson- 25 were also arrested and items recovered from them include generating set, sewing machine as well as roofing sheets .
“One Rapheal Abel- 26 and Yusuf Abdulkareem- 20 from Kaka Tribe were also arrested and roofing sheets were recovered from them.”
