Activist Franc Utoo alleges that Operation Zenda officers arrested individuals who claimed soldiers helped bring them to settle in Yelwata, and calls for an independent probe. Claims remain unverified.
Benue State — August 9, 2026
Franc Utoo, a US-based lawyer and native of Yelwata who has been a prominent voice on security issues in the community since the 2025 Yelwata massacre, has issued a public statement alleging that a recent security operation uncovered a settlement of suspected Fulani fighters near the community, and that those arrested claimed to have been brought there with the help of soldiers and a local collaborator.
According to Utoo's statement, he has received video recordings showing the arrest and interrogation of individuals connected to a settlement allegedly established in Yelwata last week, which he says was raided by officers of an operation he identified as "Operation Zenda." He said he had chosen not to release the recordings publicly at this time.
Utoo's statement claims that those arrested told interrogators they had been brought to the area by soldiers, allegedly with the involvement of an unnamed local collaborator he referred to only by the name "Zaki."
These are serious claims that have not been independently verified, and there has been no confirmation from the Nigerian military, police, or Benue State authorities regarding the alleged operation, the arrests, or the specific allegations made in the recordings.
In his statement, Utoo called for a transparent and independent investigation, arguing that residents of Yelwata deserve to know who authorized any such movement and under what circumstances.
He also pushed back against anyone in the community who may have previously denied the existence of the alleged settlement, and stated firmly that no individual or group has been authorized by the community to speak on Yelwata's behalf regarding the matter.
Utoo commended the police officers of Operation Zenda for what he described as a swift response, and thanked Bishop Wilfred Anagbe for standing with the community.
He said he would withhold further comment regarding the military personnel stationed in and around the area "for now."
Yelwata was the site of a massacre in June 2025 that killed more than 100 people, according to independent estimates, with community leaders at the time citing a higher toll.
Utoo has since become one of the most vocal public critics of the security response in the area, previously alleging military failures and infiltration in connection with attacks on the community claims that outlets covering them have generally been unable to independently verify.
As of this report, no security agency has responded publicly to the new allegations, and the claims in Utoo's statement remain unconfirmed.
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