Nigeria Works to End Violence in Benue Communities

A presidential aide is working directly with security agencies to bring peace back to communities in Nigeria's Benue state.

Dr. Abiodun Essiet, who serves as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for North Central Nigeria, visited security commanders this week to coordinate peace efforts. Her mission focuses on gathering community concerns and building trust between residents and security forces.

Essiet met with the State Director of the Department of State Services and the Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, a military operation working to maintain peace across Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states. She shared feedback from local communities and discussed strategies to address their security needs together.

"We are here to further build working relationships with security agencies so that we can have peaceful communities across Benue," Essiet explained. She briefed security leaders on her three day plan to visit Kwande Local Government and other recently affected areas.

The approach emphasizes listening to communities first. Essiet has been gathering input from residents to understand what they need most, then connecting those concerns directly to the people who can help address them.

The Ripple Effect

Major General Moses Gara, Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, welcomed the collaborative approach. He noted that Essiet's community engagement work creates a strong foundation for resolving conflicts through dialogue rather than force alone.

The general confirmed that a battalion was recently deployed to Kwande, boosting security presence in troubled communities. But he emphasized that military presence works best when paired with genuine community engagement and trust building.

This partnership model shows how government officials and security forces can work together more effectively. By prioritizing community voices and building relationships, they're creating conditions for lasting peace rather than temporary fixes.

The conversations between Essiet and security leaders focused on practical next steps. They discussed how to strengthen community intelligence networks and support local stakeholders who want to see their neighborhoods safe again.

Residents now have a direct channel to share their concerns with both presidential staff and security commanders working in their areas.