President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigeria’s top security chiefs and the Inspector General of Police to immediately arrest those responsible for the recent mass killings in Benue State. His order followed deadly attacks in the Yelwata area of the state, which left many residents dead and thousands displaced.
Tinubu visited Benue on Wednesday to meet with stakeholders and express solidarity with the victims. He addressed security officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, service commanders, and intelligence heads, urging them to act swiftly.
“Police, I hope your men are on alert to listen to information. How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals,” the president said during the meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi.
He also charged the Director Generals of the National Intelligence Agency and the State Security Service to improve their intelligence-gathering mechanisms.
“Let’s get those criminals, let’s get them out. Retool your information channels and let’s have tangible intelligence so that this will not occur again,” Tinubu told the gathering.
Tinubu Calls for Reconciliation, Condemns Misplaced Narratives
While addressing the issue, President Tinubu stressed the need for peace and mutual understanding among the different groups in Benue. He asked Governor Hyacinth Alia to initiate a reconciliation process between warring groups to end the bloodshed. According to Tinubu, Nigeria cannot achieve progress in a climate of violence.
“As Nigerians, we are members of the same house, but sleeping in different rooms,” he said. “Whether you are a Tiv, Idoma, or Yoruba, let’s turn this country into a nation of prosperity, unity, and fight our enemies together; not fight each other.”
The president stated that Benue’s tragedy could be turned into a turning point for national unity. “The value of human lives is greater than that of a cow. We are here to govern, not to bury. We are here to raise families, not to lose some,” he said.
He promised to invest in peace and recommended the formation of a leadership committee including past governors and traditional leaders to find lasting solutions to the unrest.
Tinubu also appealed to Nigerians to donate blood to support victims injured in the recent violence. He visited a hospital in the state capital to see some of the injured victims.
Benue Leaders Demand Lasting Solutions and State Police
Governor Alia expressed deep concern over the rising insecurity. He urged the federal government to allow state police and establish an emergency intervention fund for affected communities. According to Alia, these steps are vital to restoring peace in Benue.
He acknowledged that community policing has its challenges but believes it will help address the ongoing crisis in one of Nigeria’s major food-producing states.
Traditional leaders also expressed their worries. The Tor Tiv V and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, James Ayatse, dismissed the notion that the killings were the result of clashes between farmers and herders. He warned that such claims are misleading and dangerous.
“Your Excellency, it is not herders-farmers clashes, it is not communal clashes, it is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes,” Ayatse told President Tinubu. “What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder-terrorists and bandits, which has been going on for decades.”
Ayatse explained that the crisis is not simply a conflict between neighbours. “Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment. It’s not about learning to live with your neighbours; it is dealing with the war,” he said.
As the president left Benue State, he assured the people that the federal government will not ignore their suffering. He promised continued support and a commitment to work with all stakeholders to restore peace.
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