Benue insecurity largely linked to criminal activities, not land grabbing agenda — OPWS Commander

The Force Commander of Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Moses Gara, has stated that intelligence and operational findings from security missions across Benue State do not support allegations of an organised Islamist campaign aimed at taking over indigenous lands in Benue and the wider North-Central region.

Speaking on Saturday while reviewing the security landscape and challenges facing security agencies, Gara explained that most violent incidents in the area are rooted in criminal behaviour, retaliatory attacks, breakdowns in law and order, and weak local dispute-resolution systems.

He noted that although clashes between farmers and Fulani herders continue to generate tension, security investigations have not uncovered evidence showing that displaced communities have had their lands permanently occupied by herders or any other group.

“I have personally visited several displaced communities. To my knowledge, I have not seen any non-indigene come forward to claim ownership of land belonging to communities in Benue.

“I have repeatedly asked for evidence of any community that has been permanently occupied following displacement of its indigenous population, but none has been presented,” he said.

According to the commander, some incidents involving destruction of farmlands have been traced to poor livestock management, including situations where cattle were left unattended or placed under the care of underage herders.

He stressed that continuous dialogue, public sensitisation and stronger conflict-management mechanisms could significantly reduce such occurrences.

Gara further observed that the strong cultural attachment of Benue communities to their ancestral homes makes claims of widespread territorial occupation difficult to substantiate.

He referenced a recent security incident in Nasarawa State’s Udege area to illustrate how criminal acts and revenge attacks can rapidly escalate into broader communal violence.

The commander said preliminary investigations indicated that two Fulani youths were allegedly killed by local residents who suspected them of participating in a kidnapping operation.

He explained that the deaths reportedly sparked retaliatory attacks that spread across several neighbouring communities.

“When we visited the area with the police, we gathered statements from different parties.

“The Fulani community claimed the two youths had gone into the bush to search for honey and had no connection with the kidnapping incident.

“The issue escalated because individuals took the law into their own hands instead of allowing security agencies to investigate,” he said.

Further inquiries revealed that some settlements inhabited by other ethnic groups also came under attack because they were believed to be aligned with one side of the conflict.

Gara described the situation as a reflection of the complex security realities in the region, noting that many violent episodes stem from suspicion, misinformation and reprisals rather than any organised effort to seize territory.

He reiterated that OPWS was created to support existing law-enforcement institutions rather than replace them.

The commander called for stronger community policing structures and improved law-enforcement responses to emerging threats before they develop into full-scale violence.

“Our mandate presupposes that law enforcement agencies are present and performing their responsibilities.

“The military is an intervention force. We complement the efforts of the police and other security agencies,” he said.

Gara also raised concerns over the growing circulation of illegal firearms, describing it as a major factor fueling criminal operations across the region.

He identified kidnapping activities, especially in Benue’s Sankera axis, where local criminal gangs are active, as one of the most serious security challenges currently confronting the state.