At the end of 40 days of failed operation in Benue state, the Nigerian army officially announced the end of the Army’s Cat Race exercise commenced on February 15th and designed to end March 31st, 2018.
At the launch of Exercise Ayem Akpatema in Guma local government area of Benue State on February 20th 2018, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai was lucid that it was to flush the communities of criminals; disarm armed militias and bandits terrorizing law abiding citizens to enforce permanent relief to afflicted states.
Instead of disarming the Herdsmen, the Nigerian Army had within the period of operation been accused of colluding with the Herdsmen to oppress the people they were meant to protect.
However, it was reported that the army went all out to disarm members of the communities who had only tried to defend themselves while the Fulani Herdsmen increased the terror against communities.
The army claimed that the time for the exercise was too short.
In the official statement, the Army said:
Although, Exercise Cat Race has been officially terminated in most of the states, with the only extension of two months in Taraba state, it is not unwise to say that it is too early for the army personnel to quit the stage, in the areas they have been withdrawn. Clearly, the time allocated for the Exercise Ayem Akpatema is too short to completely fish out criminal elements in these communities
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