Nigerian Army Denies Violent Confrontation between Security Operatives in Makurdi

Strategic Insights -

Nigerian Army spokesmen have dismissed audio allegations of a violent confrontation between Operation Zenda Joint Task Force personnel and troops of Operation Whirl Stroke in Makurdi, labeling them as a "cooked-up" narrative designed to destabilize public trust in security agencies and ignite communal strife. The Army has condemned the alleged misinformation as a serious threat to national security, vowing to identify and prosecute individuals behind the malicious audio clip.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Nigerian Army has denied allegations of a violent confrontation between Operation Zenda Joint Task Force personnel and troops of Operation Whirl Stroke in Makurdi, Benue State, as revealed in a viral audio clip.
  • The audio clip, which was leaked online, falsely claims that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) engaged in a violent confrontation with personnel of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force (JTF) in Makurdi on June 4, 2025.
  • The audio clip further claims that the military personnel released a so-called Fulani terrorist kingpin following the alleged killing of 23 civilians and a Mobile Police (MOPOL) officer in Tulan community, Kwande Local Government Area.
  • A fact-find mission established by OPWS in consultation with police authorities found that no killings occurred in Kwande LGA on May 11, 2025, as alleged, and the Benue State Police Command also debunked the false narrative.
  • The Commander of Operation Zenda base denied any confrontation with military personnel, stating that no raid occurred contrary to the claims in the audio clip.
  • Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke and Operation Zenda Joint Task Force intervened in a completely unrelated and legitimate operation in Udei, where a Fulani individual was rescued from mob lynching and handed over to the police.
  • The two Fulani individuals referenced in the audio speech remained in police custody and were being processed through the proper legal channels, as stated by Captain Abdullahi Osabo.

Statistics:

  • None provided in the text.
  • However, the audio clip in question made claims of the killing of 23 civilians and a Mobile Police (MOPOL) officer in Tulan community, Kwande Local Government Area, on May 11, 2025.

Sources:

  • Captain Abdullahi Osabo, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 401 Special Forces Brigade/Sector 1 OPWS.

Note: The text does not provide external references, but rather internal statements made by Captain Abdullahi Osabo.