President Bola Tinubu has directed the country’s top security officials to immediately go after the criminals responsible for the recent mass killings in State, describing the attack as “dastardly” and unacceptable.
During a visit to Makurdi, the state capital, on Wednesday, Tinubu told Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to act swiftly.
“Police, I hope your men are alert. How come no one has been arrested?” the President asked. “Let’s get those criminals and ensure this never happens again.”
This comes after suspected herders attacked Yelwata community in Benue, killing several people and leaving many others injured. The killings sparked protests and drew nationwide condemnation, including from Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and even Pope Leo XIV, who described the attacks as a “terrible massacre.”
President Tinubu, who visited victims in the hospital, said the federal government would support efforts to restore peace and rebuild affected communities. He called on Nigerians to donate blood to help the injured.
“Benue people should not be left to bury their loved ones without justice,” he said. “We are here to raise families, not to lose them.”
The President urged unity, saying: “Whether you are Tiv, Idoma, or Yoruba, let’s fight the real enemies, not ourselves. The value of human life is greater than that of a cow.”
Tinubu also proposed the creation of a Benue Leadership Committee made up of past governors, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders, which will meet in Abuja to discuss lasting peace solutions. He promised to “invest in that peace.”
Governor Hyacinth Alia told the President that Benue urgently needs state police and an intervention fund to help rebuild communities devastated by the attacks. He said community policing would help respond faster to local threats.
During the meeting, Tor Tiv V, James Ayatse, strongly rejected the idea that the killings were due to farmers-herders clashes.
“This is not about communal fights or reprisals. What we face is a full-scale, well-organized genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign,” he said.
He warned that misrepresenting the conflict as mere clashes leads to the wrong solutions.
“We need the right diagnosis to apply the right treatment,” the monarch said. “What we are dealing with is war — not a misunderstanding with neighbours.”
The President’s visit is part of efforts to address growing insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, especially in food-producing areas like Benue, which have suffered repeated attacks in recent years.
