In a proactive move to forestall potential communal unrest, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Benue State has taken 19 young individuals into protective custody.
The action was taken following credible intelligence about the group’s movement, which raised security concerns reminiscent of the violent Uromi incident in Edo State.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NSCDC’s Public Relations Officer, Michael Ejelikwu, on behalf of the State Commandant Bitrus Larai, the youths — believed to be of Hausa/Fulani background — were intercepted at Adoka Motor Park in Makurdi. Initial intelligence had sparked fears that the group was headed to Adoka in Otukpo Local Government Area, a region with elevated ethnic tensions.
However, the NSCDC clarified that the group had originated from Lafia in Nasarawa State and was actually en route to Jato-Aka in Kwande LGA — an area that has recently witnessed a surge in attacks and growing communal unease.
While the young men reportedly claimed they were heading to engage in mining-related work, authorities remain uncertain about the full nature of their mission. The ambiguous circumstances surrounding their movement, coupled with local suspicions of herder-related conflicts, prompted nearby communities in both Otukpo and Kwande LGAs to begin mobilizing in preparation for a possible confrontation.
“To prevent a repeat of the violence that occurred in Uromi, the command swiftly intervened by placing the individuals in protective custody. This measure will allow us to conduct thorough checks on their identities, where they came from, and where they are headed,” Larai stated, as reported by Daily Trust.
The NSCDC further disclosed that it has reached out to the mining company the group claimed they were going to work for and has requested their cooperation in ongoing investigations.
The state command has given assurances that once the vetting process is completed, steps will be taken to ensure the safe return of the youths to their home state, while also maintaining peace and order in the communities involved.
The development highlights growing concerns about interethnic relations and security tensions in parts of the Middle Belt, particularly amid fears of unregulated movements and unauthorized mining operations.
