How dialogue, military intervention prevented fresh bloodshed in Benue communities

By: Zagazola Makama

For years, communities across Guma Local Government Area of Benue lived under the constant fear of attacks, reprisals and counter-reprisals that often turned minor disputes into deadly cycles of violence.

But according to the Commanding Officer of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Special Intervention Battalion 11, Lt.-Col. Donatus Otobo, a combination of military presence, community engagement and conflict mediation is gradually changing the narrative.

Speaking during a tour of his area of responsibility by defence correspondents on Tuesday, Otobo recounted several incidents that underscored the fragility of peace in the area and the delicate task facing troops deployed to maintain stability.

The commander described a disturbing incident involving an 11-year-old herder whose ordeal nearly triggered another round of communal violence.

According to him, the young boy was tending cattle around November when he was attacked by some locals who severed one of his hands.

“The boy was only 11 years old. We had to intervene quickly, rescue him and evacuate him to a military hospital for treatment.

“He spent about a month receiving medical care before he was reunited with his family,” Otoogu said.

However, what followed reinforced the battalion’s concerns about the dangerous cycle of revenge that has fuelled many conflicts in the area.

The commander said that barely two days after the boy returned home, another attack occurred in which two victims suffered similar injuries.

“From what we observed, it appeared to be a reprisal attack.

“That is the reality we face here. One incident triggers another, and before long, communities become trapped in a cycle of revenge,” he said.

Otobo noted that while public attention often focuses on attacks by armed groups, there are also numerous cases where unarmed herders become targets of violence.

According to him, troops have repeatedly intervened to prevent such incidents from escalating into wider communal conflicts.

“There are situations where herders who are not carrying weapons are attacked alongside their livestock.

“Sometimes their cattle are rustled, killed or butchered. We have responded to cases where dozens of cattle were either stolen or slaughtered.

“In one particular case, herders reported losing about 130 cattle. When we arrived, we could only physically account for about 60.

“The scene was disturbing. There were carcasses, blood stains, horns and evidence of widespread destruction,” he said.

The commander explained that such incidents often create fertile ground for retaliatory violence.

He said one cattle-rustling incident in particular had all the ingredients of a major crisis similar to previous large-scale attacks experienced in parts of Benue.

“That situation was a ticking time bomb.

“It could easily have degenerated into another major communal crisis if we had not intervened promptly,” he said.

Otobo said troops immediately engaged traditional rulers, community leaders, herder representatives and other stakeholders to calm tensions and prevent reprisals.

According to him, the sustained dialogue paid off, as the incident did not trigger further violence despite widespread anger among those affected.

“We brought together community leaders, elders and Fulani representatives.

“We listened to grievances from all sides and encouraged restraint.

“That incident happened more than seven months ago, and thankfully it did not escalate into a broader conflict,” he said.

The commander also offered insights into the factors that may have contributed to the deadly Yelwata attack that shocked the state.

He said findings from military investigations suggested that tensions had been building months before the incident.

“From our own investigation, the chain of events started around April when some criminals attacked herders, killed some of them and rustled about 100 cattle.

“The affected individuals apparently went away, regrouped and later returned.

“By June, the situation had escalated into the Yelwata attack,” he said.

Otobo stressed that the lesson from such incidents is that unresolved grievances, if ignored, can eventually snowball into major security crises.

He noted that Yelwata, which now falls under the battalion’s area of responsibility, has remained peaceful due to proactive security measures and constant engagement with residents.

According to him, community leaders specifically requested the deployment of troops from the COAS Special Intervention Battalion to maintain security in the area.

“Today, Yelwata is peaceful, and that is one of the achievements we are proud of.

“The people themselves requested that our troops remain there because of the confidence they have in our operations,” he said.

Otobo further disclosed that the security situation had improved significantly, particularly regarding the presence of armed herders.

He said reports of herders openly carrying assault rifles, which were once common, had virtually disappeared within the battalion’s area of responsibility.

“As I speak to you, since December last year, there has not been a single reported sighting of armed herders within our area of responsibility.

“Previously, farmers would regularly report seeing herders carrying AK-47 rifles.

“Today, those reports have stopped completely,” he said.

The commander attributed the improvement to sustained military operations and continuous engagement with both farming and herding communities.

He said troops regularly hold meetings with residents to educate them on the consequences of cattle rustling, reprisals and other actions capable of reigniting tensions.

“We constantly engage the communities and explain the dangers of taking the law into their own hands.

“We encourage them to report grievances through established channels rather than resorting to violence.

“I believe that has contributed significantly to the peace we are witnessing today,” he said.

The return of Guma and surrounding communities, the return of calm has translated into something they had almost forgotten, the ability to farm, trade and move freely without fear.

Yet Otobo believes the greatest achievement is not the absence of attacks, but the gradual rebuilding of trust among communities long divided by conflict.

“The military can provide security, but lasting peace comes when communities learn to coexist and resolve disputes peacefully.

“That is the direction we are working towards, and we will continue to support every effort that promotes peace and stability in this area,” he said.

How dialogue, military intervention prevented fresh bloodshed in Benue communities