MARKUDI: President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigeria’s Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to track and arrest those responsible for the latest Benue killings.
The renewed violence in Benue State believed to be carried out by armed herders, has left dozens dead and displaced thousands. During his visit to Makurdi, the state capital, on Wednesday, Tinubu told security leaders to intensify their response.
Police, I hope your men are alert. Why haven’t arrests been made? I expect these criminals to be brought to justice, Tinubu said during a meeting at the Benue Government House.
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He urged intelligence agencies, NIA, SSS, and military leaders to enhance coordination and deliver actionable intelligence to prevent further attacks.
The attack occurred in Yelwata, a farming community in the Yelwata Local Government Area, and has sparked national outrage. Victims included families and farmers, with survivors hospitalized in critical condition.
Reactions from political figures like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar condemned the massacre, calling for immediate government action. Even Pope Leo XIV described the incident as a terrible massacre and urged for lasting peace in Nigeria’s North-Central region.
President Tinubu tasked Governor Hyacinth Alia with initiating a peace and reconciliation meeting to address the escalating violence. He emphasized the need for ethnic harmony. We’re all Nigerians Tiv, Idoma, Yoruba we must fight enemies of the nation, not each other, Tinubu declared, urging tolerance, national unity, and community cooperation.
Speaking at the gathering which included SGF George Akume, APC Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, governors, and traditional leaders Tinubu said the region can transform tragedy into progress. We’re here to govern, not to bury. Let’s invest in peace, health, food, and water,” he said, pledging federal support.
He asks citizens to voluntarily donate blood to hospitals treating the injured.
The President proposed forming a Benue Leadership Committee of past governors, traditional rulers, and key stakeholders. The goal: create a peace framework and hold a decisive meeting in Abuja. I’m ready to fund and support peace efforts. Let’s stop the bloodshed now, he added
Governor Hyacinth Alia reiterated his demand for state policing and a special intervention fund to rebuild affected communities. He acknowledged the complexities but insisted it’s necessary for restoring peace.
Tor Tiv V, James Ayatse, Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, dismissed the narrative of a herder-farmer conflict. This is not a clash. It’s a full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing operation, he warned. Calling it communal violence is misleading and dangerous.
He urged the federal government to recognize the true scale and intent of the attacks.
