Nigerian authorities have undertaken a major security operation in Nasarawa State’s border communities following a brutal attack that left more than 200 people dead in Telewata, located in Benue State.
The massacre, which occurred in Guma Local Government Area over the weekend, has sent shockwaves across the region. Dozens of families have fled to neighbouring Nasarawa, seeking refuge from further violence.
Security forces, including mobile police and tactical units, have now been deployed to key areas in Keana and Doma Local Government Areas, both of which share porous borders with Benue. The action comes amid growing fears of retaliatory violence or additional attacks.
A day prior to the Telewata killings, the communities of Doka and Antsa in Nasarawa’s Doma and Keana LGAs were also targeted by gunmen, forcing over 1,000 residents to abandon their homes.
In an interview with Newsmen, Police Spokesperson Superintendent Ramhan Nansel confirmed that Nasarawa’s Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, led a coordinated response immediately following the Telewata incident.
“He visited the affected areas alongside other security chiefs, ordered immediate deployment to strategic points, and engaged with residents to reassure them,” Nansel said.
He noted that the enhanced presence would be maintained to deter further violence and ensure law and order. “We are working in synergy with other security agencies. Our message to the public is clear: remain calm, do not flee — your safety is our priority,” he emphasised.
The border security surge underscores growing instability in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where conflicts between armed groups and communities have escalated in recent years, often over land and ethnic disputes.
