President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to visit Benue State today in a renewed effort to bring peace and address the ongoing violent conflicts plaguing the region, following the recent killing of over 200 people by armed herdsmen.
The trip comes as Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia confirmed the identity of the attackers, saying armed herders were responsible for the latest violence. Prominent religious leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the leadership of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), have also called for an end to the bloodshed, declaring that “enough is enough”.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, condemned the killings, describing them as economically rather than religiously motivated. Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the Federal Government to prosecute those behind the atrocities, stressing that accountability is key to ending the violence.
In light of the situation in Benue, President Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trip to Kaduna State. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said in a statement Monday that the president’s visit is intended to “assess, firsthand, the recurring crises that had claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction.”
The statement continued: “During his stay, President Tinubu will meet with all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political, religious, and community leaders, and youth groups—to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities.
“In preparation for the visit, President Tinubu has already dispatched the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees to Benue State. The president is expected to hold a town hall meeting with all stakeholders during the visit.”
President Tinubu had earlier condemned the killings and called on leaders and residents to embrace peace and understanding. He also extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, reacting to the violence at Yelewata, said in a televised interview that those responsible are armed herders entering the state without cattle: “Last year, people had gone back home and engaged in farming activities with bountiful produce.
But this farming season again, we started experiencing the phase of the new attacks. The phase of the new attacks comes this way. Before now, we were talking about the farmers/herders crisis, now it has graduated from there. It has become the question of herders coming in, and the armed men were among them.
“We tagged them the armed herdsmen. What we experience, generally, is that the herds are not being brought in, but those who are in the frontline fighting out here are only carrying AK-47s and AK-49s.
“What are their aims? They don’t even come with cows. They attack and kill, and after one week, a number of people now come back to occupy.
“What we understand on the ground is a simple equation. A thief will not just come to a community unless there is someone within the community who leads the thief to your house or the community.
“What we have now is that, strangely, it is the fact that the herders had a crisis, the armed herders hijacked it, and now the bandits and terrorists have come in completely. ‘That is the situation on the ground.’
SGF George Akume, in a separate statement, echoed the call for unity and swift action: “This latest reprehensible act, one among too many, is not merely a tragedy for Benue; it is a deep wound to the soul of our nation. These dastardly acts are not restricted to Benue State alone. Plateau and Zamfara states also suffer the same fate. These killings are economic, not religious-driven.
“The innocent lives lost – men, women, and children – will not be forgotten. We mourn them not as strangers but as brothers and sisters, bound together by a shared humanity and a common destiny.
“Beyond mourning, I call on all sons and daughters of Benue, our leaders, traditional institutions, and key stakeholders to come together now, urgently, to forge a path toward lasting peace and security. We must rise above division and act decisively to protect our people and preserve our future.”
“As believers – Christians, Muslims, traditionalists – we believe in the sanctity of human lives. Any single life lost offends the sensibility of God Almighty. All of us must live as brothers and sisters in peace and harmony.
“I extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families and the resilient people of Benue. In this dark hour, we stand with you. And we will not rest until justice speaks — loudly, clearly, and without delay.”
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun also visited Benue on Monday. He met with Governor Alia, visited affected communities, and ordered the deployment of more tactical teams.
“The IGP condemned the attacks, describing the killings as senseless and an act of terrorism,” a police statement said.
“The Nigeria Police Force once again reaffirms its commitment, in line with the agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the good people of Benue State and the entire country.
“The Force remains resolute towards bringing the perpetrators of these attacks to justice and restoring peace to all affected communities.”
Religious leaders have also raised their voices. The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, stated: “For how long would such senseless killings continue to occur on Nigerian soil? Why has it remained so difficult for security agencies in pre-empting such catastrophic occurrences in our national lives?”
“The sanctity of human life is sacrosanct and must not be toyed with. Allah, the Most High, says, “Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.”
“Enough is enough. Our collective silence or indifference may only serve to embolden the enemies of peace and national unity in Nigeria.”
Similarly, the CCN president, Most Rev. David Onuoha, lamented: “We join people of conscience from all over the world to condemn and lament the massacre of more than 200 innocent lives in Benue State over the weekend.
“It is very disturbing to note that most of these atrocities take place in the shadow of security checkpoints/posts. It is very disheartening that the government has always issued statements condemning these acts and giving assurances that do not go beyond political correctness.’’
CAN also issued a strong statement, calling on the government to act swiftly: “For too long, the people of Benue have been subjected to recurrent assaults, often blamed on armed groups without meaningful intervention or justice,” CAN stated.
“We demand the immediate deployment of reinforced security personnel to protect vulnerable communities and, if necessary, the declaration of a state of emergency in the most affected areas.”
“We also appeal to the international community to support efforts aimed at restoring peace and rebuilding trust in Benue State.”
Former Senate President David Mark warned of the consequences of continued inaction: “This is the unfortunate reality Benue people are confronted with. Government must rise to its responsibility or risk leaving the people with no option but to defend themselves.”
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) echoed the concerns, condemning the killings in Yelewata: “To show a new determination, only a few days before the Yelewata tragedy, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, had undertaken a high visibility relocation to Benue State. That the Yelewata tragedy would take place within days of the COAS’s relocation clearly illustrates that the prevailing curtailment strategy must, therefore, be reviewed.”
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held President Tinubu and the APC responsible for failing to address national security: “It is clear that the assailants marauding communities in various states of our country are being emboldened by President Tinubu’s lethargic approach to security. The APC has failed to decisively confront the situation, given its reported connections with terrorist interests.”
“President Tinubu should be held responsible for the killings in Nigeria, having not demonstrated the will and commitment expected of a Commander-in-Chief in the fight against terrorism in our country.”
The party, while critical, commended the sacrifices of security forces and offered condolences to the bereaved.
“We commend the courage of our gallant security personnel who continue to risk their lives to defend our country, even without adequate support.”
“Our Party deeply commiserates with the families of the victims of the senseless killings in Benue State and other parts of our country.”
