The Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Burutai, has directed troops deployed for exercise Cat Race in Benue State, to engage any group of armed herdsmen terrorising local communities or face a military court-martial.

General Burutai gave this directive shortly after flagging off the exercise code-named Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) in Guma local government, following complaints by displaced persons that, the army would rather watch armed herdsmen moved freely instead of engaging them.

He also met with IDPs at the Gmajimba camp, where he assures them of a timely return to their ancestral homes with the official flag off exercise which cut across Benue, Taraba, Narasawa, Kogi and Adamawa states.

The governor of the state, Samuel Ortom in his remarks expressed confidence in the ability of the exercise.

At the Gnajimba IDP camp, community leaders while receiving the General Burutai, pleaded for an unbiased exercise to help restore peace to their troubled villages. (Channels TV)