One Injured as Police, Army Clash in Benue

At least one person was reportedly injured on Thursday following a violent clash between operatives of the Nigerian Police’s Operation Zenda Joint Task Force (JTF) and personnel of the Nigerian Army in Naka, headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred when a misunderstanding broke out between members of the two security agencies during an operation in the town.

What started as a minor disagreement reportedly escalated into a gun duel, forcing residents and traders in the area to flee for safety.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said heavy gunfire was heard around the main market area for several minutes. “We were terrified. People started running in different directions. I saw one person who was hit by a stray bullet,” the witness said.

The injured victim, whose identity had not yet been disclosed, was said to have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the confrontation remains unclear. However, sources suggested that the altercation might have stemmed from a disagreement over operational jurisdiction or the arrest of a suspect by one of the security teams.

Efforts to reach the spokespersons of both the Benue State Police Command and the Nigerian Army’s 72 Battalion in Makurdi for official comments were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were not immediately returned.

The Naka incident has once again raised concerns over the recurring friction among Nigeria’s security agencies, despite several calls for inter-agency cooperation in tackling the state’s worsening insecurity.

Benue State has in recent years witnessed a series of security challenges, including communal clashes, bandit attacks, and farmer-herder conflicts, particularly in Gwer West, Guma, and Logo local government areas.

Authorities are expected to launch an investigation to ascertain the cause of the clash and prevent a recurrence.