President Bola Tinubu touched down in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, on Tuesday as part of his scheduled visit to Yelwata, a community in the Guma Local Government Area.
Tinubu arrived at the Nigerian Air Force’s Tactical Air Command base around 12:58 p.m.
The visit comes in the wake of deadly attacks in the area. Tinubu is expected to hold talks with key stakeholders in the state to address the security crisis and its impact on local communities.
The President has directed the country’s top security chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to apprehend those responsible for the recent wave of brutal killings in Benue State, which have left many dead and others seriously injured.
“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,” Tinubu stated during a stakeholder meeting at the Benue Government House.
He called on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other heads of security agencies to intensify their efforts, saying: “Christopher, you have given much. I watch your comments—you can’t be tired of staying in the bush. Oloyede and the Air Marshal, we thank all of you, but we need to keep our ears to the ground. Let’s get those criminals. Let’s get them out. DG NIA, DG SSS, retool your information channels and let’s have tangible intelligence so this will not occur again.”
The renewed attacks, reportedly carried out by suspected herders in the Yelwata community of Guma Local Government Area, have sparked widespread outrage and displaced thousands. Political leaders like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar have condemned the violence and urged immediate government action. Pope Leo XIV also weighed in, describing the killings as “a terrible massacre.”
Push for Dialogue and Reconciliation
Earlier in the week, Tinubu had called on Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to initiate dialogue among the state’s various communities to restore calm. On Wednesday, he reiterated the need for unity and tolerance during his address to state leaders and dignitaries.
“As Nigerians, we are members of the same house, but sleeping in different rooms. 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,” he said.
Tinubu encouraged collective healing and cooperation, adding: “We can turn this tragedy into economic prosperity. We can do it, and we will do it with you. Let’s have a very serious understanding among ourselves and increase our tolerance level. The value of human lives is greater than that of a cow.”
He urged Governor Alia to foster peace and warned against giving room for political opportunism. “It is only when you open the doors that political enemies will come,” he said.
“We are here to govern, not to bury [them]. We are here to raise families, not to lose some, and provide healthcare, water, and food for them,” he added to applause from the audience.
Plan for a Leadership Committee
As part of a broader peace effort, Tinubu proposed the creation of a leadership committee comprising former governors, traditional rulers, and key stakeholders. He said the group would meet in Abuja to draft a long-term strategy for peace in Benue.
“Whatever we need to do, I will want us to create this leadership committee now, and then we will meet in Abuja to really fashion out the nucleus of a lasting peace, and I am ready to invest in that peace,” he stated.
He also appealed to the public to donate blood to help victims receive treatment. During his visit, Tinubu stopped at a hospital to meet survivors of the attacks.
Governor Alia Backs State Policing, Seeks Intervention Fund
Governor Alia emphasised the need for structural reforms, including the introduction of state policing, to strengthen local security. He also called for a dedicated intervention fund to support affected communities.
While acknowledging the challenges of community policing, Alia insisted it remains a vital step toward long-term stability in Benue.
Traditional Ruler Describes Attacks as ‘Genocidal Invasion’
Meanwhile, the Tor Tiv V and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, James Ayatse, condemned the violence as a targeted campaign, not just sporadic conflict.
“We have grave concern about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue,” he said.
“Your Excellency, it is not herders-farmers 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, which has been on for decades and is worsening every year.”
Ayatse warned that mischaracterising the situation leads to inadequate solutions. “Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment. So we are dealing with something far more sinister than we often admit,” he concluded.
