Alarmed by serial killings by terrorists and armed herders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will tomorrow visit Benue State.
He will galvanise security and rally the people against the marauders to end their dastardly actions.
In the last round of attacks, which drew out youths in protest at the weekend, no fewer than 147 people were killed, according to Governor Hyacinth Alia.
President Tinubu put off his original plan to visit Kaduna State to enable him to move to Benue, where he will have a town hall meeting with traditional rulers, political leaders, religious figures, youth groups, and civil society representatives.
The meeting is designed to generate home-grown solutions to the prolonged violence.
Ahead of the visit, he dispatched the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, also a former governor of the state; the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector General of Police (IG) Kayode Egbtokun; heads of intelligence agencies, and chairmen of the Defence Committees in the Senate and House of Representatives, to assess the situation, according to Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
Yesterday, the President, who spoke on the killings during the Abuja water project, said: “While I sympathise with the Benue people, I have spoken to the governor, the leadership and the people of Benue, to accept our condolences and try very consciously to maintain peace and harmony among themselves.
“I have always said that we are one single huge family living in the same house, staying in different rooms, but living together in harmony will be the result of our diversity for prosperity. We should be able to manage our anger and frustration.
“I sympathise with those who have lost their lives. I will adjust my programme and go see Benue people on Wednesday.”
Governor Hyacinth Alia, who hailed the proposed presidential visit, said it would be a soothing balm to victims and reassure the people that they are not abandoned in this trying period.
The governor, who confirmed that 147 were killed, also explained that 127 bodies had been buried.
He said eight were awaiting burial, with two in the mortuary, after the latest round of attacks.
Alia insisted that foreign militants were behind the killings. He spoke on television.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, frowned at the persistent violence, saying that the attacks are heinous, barbaric and inhuman.
Akume urged the people to unite for peace.
The North’s umbrella organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), implored security agencies to double down and quickly halt the bloodletting.
Egbetokun ordered the deployment of additional policemen to join the special forces already deployed in the state.
President’s visit would restore hope, says Alia
Alia said the President’s visit would restore hope to already traumatised Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who have been hit by armed bandits.
He told reporters in Makurdi that the visit would also bring succour to the people.
The governor, who also received Egbetokun at the Government House, said the deployment of special forces would make a big difference in the battle against the bandits.
The IGP also visited the Yelwata Community in Guma local government, where he inspected the damage done and engaged the community leaders alongside the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
Read Also: Benue massacre: IGP orders deployment of additional manpower
The IGP sympathised with the governor and the people over the killings and assured that the police would flush the criminals out of the state.
Alia said foreign terrorists, and not just herders, are now responsible for the persistent killings.
He said the attackers are heavily armed, operate without cattle, and do not speak any Nigerian language.
The governor said the nature of the violence has evolved beyond the traditional farmer-herder clashes, adding that the onslaught now involves foreign militants with sophisticated weaponry.
He said: “These are not just herders. Many of them are armed terrorists who don’t speak any known Nigerian dialect.
“They move without cattle, which tells you they are not pastoralists.”
Alia acknowledged President Tinubu’s and the Federal Government’s support, noting that significant security deployments have been made to address the crisis.
He said the number of local governments under serious attack has reduced from 17 to three due to these interventions.
Alia added: “After some of the recent deadly incidents, three federal security agencies were immediately deployed to Benue. That action forced many of the invaders to retreat from occupied communities.”
The governor, who lamented that local collaborators were assisting the attackers, said: “Some of them are being aided by people within.”
He urged the communities to be vigilant and support security efforts.
The governor expressed deep concern over Benue’s porous borders, particularly with neighbouring Cameroon, Taraba, and Nasarawa states, which he said are being exploited by foreign militants to gain entry into Nigeria.
He said: “We have serious security concerns along our borders. Many of these attackers are not from here. Even if they have local connections, intelligence shows they are foreign nationals.”
Alia explained that he had held discussions with Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, saying that they shared intelligence reports linking the violence to foreign terrorist infiltration.
The governor called for greater national attention to the crisis, emphasising the need for sustained federal collaboration to secure Benue and restore peace to its communities.
Akume calls for unity, peace
Akume urged leaders to urgently unite in forging a path to peace.
He appealed to traditional rulers, political leaders, community stakeholders, and citizens across the state to set aside differences and act with urgency to restore peace and security in the region.
He said: “We must rise above division and act decisively to protect our people and preserve our future.”
The SGF condemned the continuous wave of violence, describing the latest killings as “reprehensible” and “a deep wound to the soul of our nation.”
He noted that similar tragedies had occurred in Plateau and Zamfara states, stressing that the root causes were largely economic and not religious.
Akume said: “These dastardly acts are not restricted to Benue State alone. Plateau and Zamfara states also suffer the same fate. These killings are economically deterministic, not religiously driven.”
Akume thanked President Tinubu for his prompt intervention. He believes that his swift directive for a comprehensive security operation would flush out the perpetrators and restore order.
Akume said beyond the security response, the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has started providing humanitarian assistance..
He promised to engage stakeholders and coordinate peace efforts across the affected communities.
Akume said: “On my part, as a son of the soil and a key stakeholder, I will not relent in consulting, mobilising, and coordinating all necessary efforts to find and implement a durable solution, as I am doing the same for all the other affected states.”
Stressing the sanctity of life, he called on Nigerians of all faiths — Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists — to reject violence and reaffirm the values of peace and brotherhood.
He said: “As believers… 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.
“In this dark hour, we stand with you. And we will not rest until justice speaks — loudly, clearly, and without delay.”
CDS vows to end banditry
Gen. Musa vowed that the military would end banditry.
Speaking in Yelwata, the CDS said the Armed Forces would leave no stone unturned to ensure that such devastating attacks were not repeated.
He also assured that wherever the attackers were, the military would get and neutralise them, adding that the Yelwata attack would be their last act.
Gen. Musa, who admitted that there were officers who compromised and gave out information, clarified that such officers were no longer in service.
He said there was evidence that the bandits had their targets, adding that there were insiders who aided them.
Gen. Musa said: “I’m going to see my commanders, and we have to change our strategy. We want to look inward and see how we can address this.
“We have even within us people who compromise and give information. Going around the scene, the way the killings and burnings were carried out shows that they had insiders.
“I discussed with community leaders, traditional rulers and the clergy the need for us to work in unity.
“There have been some issues of trust, and we are going to address them.”
Aondoakaa urges leaders to close ranks
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mike Aondoakaa, urged the people to close ranks in this moment of grief.
He said in a statement that this is not the time to trade blame but to support every effort to bring about peace.
He lamented the killings, which rendered many people motherless and fatherless.
Aondoakaa said: “Beyond the mourning, we must reflect. This is no longer the time for political divides, clannish sentiments, or personal loyalties.
“The enemy before us does not care whether we are Tiv, Idoma, Igede, nor do they care which political party one belongs.”
“Your Excellency, now is the time to show the heart of a father; a father who grieves not just with words, but decisive action.
“I plead with you to put the house of Benue family together, from traditional rulers to religious leaders, youths, women and all stakeholders to achieve peace in the state so that Benue will not be a killing field.”
