Benue Peace: Fulani, Tiv Leaders Engage Under Military Mediation
In a major step towards lasting peace in Benue State, over 100 Fulani and Tiv leaders have met under the facilitation of the Nigerian Army as part of a non-kinetic strategy being deployed by Operation Whirl Stroke to address lingering communal tensions.
The Commanding Officer, COAS Intervention Battalion XI, Lt. Col. Donatus Otobo, revealed this recently during an interaction with Defence Correspondents in Tatyough, Guma Local Government Area,
He describing the engagement as a turning point in efforts to complement military operations with dialogue and community cooperation.
“Yesterday, (Monday, 19 January) we held a meeting with over 50 Fulani and more than 50 Tiv leaders. They are beginning to talk,” Otobo said.
He explained that while military action has significantly reduced bandit activity, sustainable peace cannot be achieved through force alone, particularly in communities affected by years of farmer–herder clashes, mistrust, and criminal infiltration.
According to him, the meeting brought together Fulani leaders from border areas in Nasarawa State and Tiv leaders from affected Benue communities, creating a platform for dialogue, reconciliation, and intelligence sharing.
Otobo said the engagement has already yielded results, noting that Fulani community members now provide timely intelligence to security forces, including reports that have led to arrests of criminal elements operating under the guise of ethnic conflict.
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“Some of the arrests we have made recently came from information provided by Fulani leaders themselves. Even today, it was Fulani community members who alerted us to a developing situation,” he disclosed.
He stressed that the Army is working closely with local hunters, community leaders, and local government officials to navigate difficult terrain, identify criminal hideouts, and prevent ethnic tensions from being exploited by armed groups.
The officer clarified that the remaining security challenges in the area are not driven by ethnic groups but by a small criminal network attacking both Fulani and Tiv communities to instigate reprisals.
“These criminals attack Tiv, they attack Fulani. Their aim is to create fear and mistrust. That is why this dialogue is important—to deny them space and local support,” Otobo said.
He added that many displaced residents have begun preparations to return to their communities ahead of the next farming season, with the Army working to ensure that security conditions are stable enough to support resettlement and agricultural activities.
The Commanding Officer, Sector 2, Operation Whirl Stroke, Brig.-Gen. David Nwakonobi, also assured that troops would continue to block infiltration routes and prevent criminals from exploiting border communities.
A local farmer, who spoke during the tour, expressed hope that the sustained peace would allow farming to resume fully, restoring livelihoods and food security across the state.
“It is only hoped that the peace attained will be sustained so that farming activities can return to these communities,” he said.
By PRNigeria
