The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has blamed the recent surge in deadly attacks in Benue, Plateau, and other parts of Nigeria on foreign herdsmen who have entered the country through porous borders.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said physical features and linguistic differences suggest that many of the attackers are not Nigerians.
“When they speak, you can tell they’re not from here. The Hausa language, for instance, varies significantly between Nigeria and countries like Mali, the Central African Republic, or Ghana,” he said.
Kangye noted that the suspects’ accents, intonations, and hair texture often identify them as foreigners. “Even when compared to Shuwa Arabs in Borno State, these individuals still stand out,” he added.
His remarks echo earlier concerns raised by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, who accused foreign herders of abusing ECOWAS protocols on free movement to enter Nigeria and unleash violence.
While acknowledging that some Nigerian herders have clashed with farmers over land use, Kangye stressed that the most violent and coordinated attacks are usually carried out by foreign infiltrators.
“These cross-border elements exploit our weak borders to carry out deadly attacks, often more brutal and organised than those involving local herders,” he said.
Kangye called for stronger collaboration among security and border management agencies to curb illegal entry and secure the nation's frontiers.
Highlighting recent military operations, he announced the arrest of notorious arms dealer and kidnapping kingpin, Buhari Umar, who has terrorised communities across Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, and Kaduna states.
Troops also apprehended a five-man kidnapping syndicate in Lafia, Nasarawa State. The suspects were identified as Hassan Mohammed, Saleh Sani, Idi Yusuf, Adamu Danmai, and Hassan Bello.
In the South-East, troops neutralised a wanted gang leader, Nkwachi Eze, also known as Onowu, who had orchestrated several violent attacks and abductions.
Kangye further revealed that in April alone, troops rescued 173 kidnapped victims, while 204 terrorists and their family members surrendered.
In the fight against oil theft, 430 suspects were arrested and stolen crude oil worth over N1.93 billion was recovered under Operation Delta Safe. Troops dismantled 95 illegal refining sites and recovered more than one million litres of stolen crude oil and other illegally refined products.
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