The Nigerian Army has issued a statement refuting claims circulating on social media regarding an alleged violent confrontation between troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) and personnel of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force (JTF) in Makurdi, Benue State.
According to Captain Abdullahi Lawal Osabo, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 401 Special Forces Brigade/Sector 1 OPWS, the Army described the audio clip making rounds on social media as "highly misleading and malicious."
The viral audio had alleged that military personnel illegally released a "Fulani terrorist kingpin" following claims that 23 civilians and a Mobile Police (MOPOL) officer were killed in Tulan community, Kwande Local Government Area.
Investigation Reveals No Evidence of Killings
The statement revealed that a fact-finding mission conducted by OPWS in collaboration with police authorities found no evidence supporting the alleged killings in Kwande LGA on May 11, 2025.
"The Benue State Police Command confirmed that no such incident was recorded," the statement noted, adding that the Commander of Operation Zenda base explicitly denied any confrontation with military personnel and stated that no raid occurred as claimed in the audio.
This clarification comes amid growing concerns about the spread of misinformation regarding security operations in Benue State, which has experienced security challenges in recent years.
The Nigerian Army has urged the public to verify information from official sources before sharing potentially divisive content on social media platforms.
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