Cat Race exercise not targeted at individuals – Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, yesterday said the exercise Ayem A’kpatuma (cat race) is not targeted at any individual, adding that it would only help to curb security challenges in Benue State and its environs.

Buratai gave the assurance during the flag off of the exercise at Mbambegha village, near Gbagjimgba in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

“It is an exercise that will help our officers and soldiers understand the basics required for internal security operations which include ambushes, military patrol, including civil military activities,” he said.

The Army chief said it was not an operation but exercise which essentially connotes a military undertone, adding that they would undertake during the exercise medical outreach as well as other programmes that would help them interact with the society in general so as to understand each other and then they would be able to start life despite whatever challenges that they are facing.

Responding, Governor Samuel Ortom thanked the federal government for approving the exercise in Benue State and expressed hope that normalcy would soon return to the state.