President Bola Tinubu has issued a firm directive to security agencies to arrest those behind the brutal killing of over 100 people in the Yelewata community of Benue State.
Speaking during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, Tinubu told the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to act swiftly.
“How come no one has been arrested for committing this heinous crime in Yelewata? Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests? The criminals must be arrested immediately,” Tinubu said in a strongly worded address.
The President also directed the heads of the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency to step up intelligence gathering to track down the killers.
He urged General Musa to ensure closer cooperation between the military and affected communities, stressing that vigilance and collaboration are key to restoring peace.
Present at the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, traditional rulers, former governors of the state, and governors from Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa states.
Tinubu called on Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to immediately establish a peace committee that includes former governors, traditional leaders, elders, federal officials, and non-indigenes residing in the state.
“Let us meet again in Abuja. Let’s fashion out a framework for lasting peace. I am ready to invest in that peace. I assure you, we will find peace. We will convert this tragedy into prosperity,” the President added.
The President also urged the state to allocate land for ranching to curb clashes between farmers and herders. He directed the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to follow up on the matter.
During an earlier visit to victims at the Benue State Teaching Hospital, Tinubu encouraged blood donations for those receiving treatment.
He lamented the state of insecurity, noting that his visit should have been for development, not mourning.
“I wanted to come here to commission projects, to reassure you of hope and prosperity, not to see gloomy faces. But peace is vital to development,” Tinubu said.
“The value of human life is greater than that of a cow. We were elected to govern, not to bury people,” he stressed.
He charged Governor Alia to cooperate fully with the federal government. “You are not elected to bury people or comfort widows and orphans. We will work with you to achieve peace. You must also work with us.
“Not everyone will like you in politics. They hate me too—like hell. But here I am, still your President,” he said.
In his remarks, Governor Alia called on the Federal Government to establish a Special Intervention Fund for communities repeatedly attacked across the state.
“Your Excellency, while we continue to mourn our losses and rebuild from the ashes of pain, we humbly urge the Federal Government to consider establishing a special intervention fund for communities affected by these incessant attacks in Benue State,” Alia appealed.
He added that the fund would aid in resettling displaced persons, rebuilding homes and public infrastructure, and supporting farmers to return to their livelihoods.
The Governor also restated his support for the creation of state police, describing it as a lasting solution to insecurity in the country.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse, commended Tinubu for becoming the first sitting President to visit victims of such attacks in the hospital.
While appreciating the President’s appointments of Benue indigenes into top positions in his administration, including SGF George Akume and Minister Joseph Utsev, the monarch appealed for more inclusion.
Tor Tiv described the situation in Benue as far beyond communal or farmer-herder clashes.
“Your Excellency, it is not herder-farmer clashes. It is not communal clashes. It is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes. 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,” he said.
He warned that downplaying the real nature of the crisis had led to poor responses, blaming some politicians for using the insecurity to pursue selfish agendas.
“We hear that some politicians would even prefer that the crisis worsens, so it would serve as a basis for declaring a state of emergency. This is unfortunate. Any politician who prays for more people to die for such a project is working against the wishes of the people of Benue State,” he stated.
The traditional ruler pleaded with President Tinubu to bring peace to the state.
“All we ask of you, sir, is to stop our weeping. Give us peace in Benue State, so our people, primarily farmers, can return to their farms and continue to produce food for Nigeria.
“I heard a story about a challenge in a place in Kwara State, and you rose and gave them peace in Kaiama. You can do that for Benue,” he concluded.
