Personnel from Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have successfully intervened to halt a fierce communal conflict that erupted between two neighboring communities in Benue State. The confrontation, which turned deadly, occurred in the afternoon of May 4, pitting residents of Tse Anjov in Makurdi Local Government Area against those of Tse Aduku in the Mbalom Council Ward of Gwer East Local Government Area.
According to a military source, the troops based in Agam were alerted to the crisis through emergency calls from the affected settlements. Upon arrival, the security forces discovered that multiple houses had been set ablaze by the aggressors, who had already fled the area before the military could reach the scene.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the root cause of the clash was a disagreement over land ownership between the two groups. The source emphasized that the soldiers acted quickly to de-escalate tensions, reestablish order, and avert further bloodshed. “Our troops have been maintaining a strong presence in the area to ensure law and order is not disrupted again,” the source stated.
The military spokesperson urged residents to embrace peaceful dialogue as the preferable method for settling disputes, reaffirming that security agencies are committed to sustaining peace in the region.