Tinubu Orders Arrest Of Benue Killers, Urges Governor Alia To Establish Peace Committee

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of armed herders responsible for the killing of over 100 people in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

Addressing stakeholders at the Government House in Makurdi, President Tinubu directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to ensure swift justice is served.

“How come no one has been arrested for committing this heinous crime in Yelewata? Inspector General, where are the arrests? The criminals must be arrested immediately,” the President demanded.

Present at the high-level meeting were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, traditional rulers, former governors of Benue, and governors from Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa states.

The President also instructed the heads of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify intelligence-gathering and surveillance to apprehend the perpetrators. Emphasizing collaboration, he tasked General Musa with improving synergy between local communities and security operatives to prevent further violence.

In a direct message to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, President Tinubu called for the establishment of a Peace Committee comprising former governors, traditional rulers, elders, federal officials, and non-indigenes.

“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,” he stated.

President Tinubu also directed Governor Alia to allocate land for ranching and asked the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to follow up on implementation.

Following a visit to victims at the Benue State Teaching Hospital, the President called for blood donations and praised medical personnel treating the wounded.

Reflecting on the tragedy, President Tinubu said his intention was to visit Benue to commission projects and celebrate progress, not to mourn.

“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,” he said. “The value of human life is greater than that of a cow. We were elected to govern, not to bury people.”

He urged Governor Alia to work closely with the Federal Government to restore peace and stability to the state.

“Governor Alia, you were elected under the progressive banner to ensure peace, stability, and progress. 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,” the President said.

“Not everyone will like you in politics. They hate me, too—like hell. But here I am, still your President. I made a promise to protect democracy, freedom, and prosperity, even for my abusers and accusers. That’s leadership.”

In his response, Governor Alia appealed to the Federal Government to establish a Special Intervention Fund to support communities affected by recurring attacks in Benue.

“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,” he said.

The Governor noted the fund would help rehabilitate displaced persons, rebuild destroyed infrastructure, and restore livelihoods, especially for farmers. He reaffirmed his support for the creation of state police as a long-term solution to insecurity.

Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse, commended President Tinubu for being the first sitting President to visit victims of such an attack in person.

He praised the President for appointing prominent Benue indigenes to key national positions, including SGF George Akume and Minister Joseph Utsev, while expressing optimism about further inclusiveness.

However, the monarch emphasized that the conflict in Benue has been grossly misunderstood and misrepresented.

“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 declared.

He warned that continued mischaracterization has led to insufficient responses and accused unnamed political actors of seeking to exploit the crisis for selfish reasons, including pushing for a state of emergency.

“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,” he pleaded.

The Tor Tiv concluded with confidence in Tinubu’s leadership: “I heard a story about a challenge in Kaiama, Kwara State, and you rose and gave them peace. You can do that for Benue.”