By Uriel Ihotu
A coordinated security response on Saturday averted what could have been a deadly escalation of violence in Benue State, as troops successfully repelled an attempted attack by suspected armed herdsmen and swiftly contained a violent communal clash between two local government areas.
At approximately 3:18 p.m., tension gripped Atson Village along the Daudu–Makurdi Expressway when heavily armed herders reportedly stormed farmlands, destroying crops and forcing terrified farmers to flee. Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic as residents ran in multiple directions, some towards the Agan Toll Gate and others along the Gbajimba Road.
Security operatives confirmed that the herders were pursuing farmers off the land when a rapid-response surveillance team intervened, forcing the assailants to retreat into the bush.
“The swift response of our patrol team prevented what could have been a massacre,” said a senior security officer familiar with the operation.
Authorities have since restored calm in the area, with joint military and police patrols currently underway to protect farmlands, secure the environment, and prevent further escalation.
Earlier the same day, at about 9:30 a.m., a longstanding land dispute between the Mbaiase community in Gwer East Local Government Area and Igbinde Village in Konshisha LGA turned violent. Suspected militias from Mbaiase reportedly launched an assault on Igbinde, located in the Mbagusa/Mbatser Council Ward, setting several thatched houses ablaze and destroying property worth millions of naira.
Though no fatalities were reported, the scale of destruction has left the community in distress.
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, supported by other security agencies, were swiftly deployed to the area to de-escalate tensions and restore normalcy.
“Dialogue has begun with stakeholders, including traditional rulers and local government authorities from both communities, to mediate the crisis and initiate long-term peacebuilding efforts,” said a source close to the peace process.
In the aftermath, surveillance and confidence-building patrols are being conducted across Atson and Igbinde communities to maintain peace and reassure residents of their safety.
Benue State continues to wrestle with the dual threats of farmer-herder conflicts and intercommunal disputes. However, Saturday’s coordinated security interventions signal a renewed commitment to safeguarding lives, fostering peaceful coexistence, and addressing the root causes of insecurity in the state.
