Int’l Day of Peace: NSCDC resolves 91 marital disputes, 94 other civil cases in Benue

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

As part of its sustained efforts to promote peace in Benue State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Benue Command, through its Peace and Conflict Resolution (PCR) Unit, has resolved 185 civil cases within one year. These include 91 marital and family-related cases.

The State Commandant, Mrs. Larai Bitrus, disclosed this on Tuesday in Makurdi during the 2025 International Day of Peace celebration themed “Act Now for a Peaceful World.”

Bitrus explained that between October 2024 and August 2025, 228 cases were reported to the PCR Unit, out of which 185 were resolved, leaving 43 pending.

She praised the PCR Unit for its diligence and patience in handling disputes, noting that their efforts had yielded significant results. According to her, the Command derives its authority from Section 3(6) of the NSCDC (Amendment) Act, 2007, which empowers it to mediate and settle disputes among willing parties.

“NSCDC remains a key player in fostering community peace through conflict resolution, in line with our mandate of maintaining law and order, protecting civilians, and safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure. The PCR’s primary objective is to promote peace, stability, and conflict resolution within our communities, and I am pleased with their performance,” she said.

The Commandant further urged stakeholders, especially traditional institutions, to renew their commitment to peacebuilding, tolerance, and understanding. She stressed the need for all Benue residents to address the root causes of conflicts, foster dialogue, and build bridges across divides to curb communal clashes.

In his remarks, the Head of the PCR Unit, Mr. Augustine Arumona, commended the Commandant for granting the unit the independence to operate effectively, which he said had greatly enhanced their ability to resolve cases without interference.

Arumona highlighted that the unit had successfully handled 91 marital/family cases, three communal conflicts, seven land disputes, and six farmer-herder clashes. Other resolved cases included 20 tenancy disagreements, 66 breach of contract/indebtedness cases, 18 interpersonal conflicts, three religion/belief-related disputes, and 14 miscellaneous cases.

He appealed to the public to always seek peaceful resolution of conflicts through the PCR Unit rather than resorting to violence, emphasizing that “there is no alternative to peace.”