Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Yusuf Atah, on Thursday, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the people of Benue state who lost 200 relatives to an attack by killer herders.
He spoke in a statement signed by his publicity aide, Seyi Olorunsola.
“The minister stands in solidarity with the people of Benue State at this testing time and encourages them to remain strong in their confidence with the leadership of Mr. President and the security forces to ensure that this sort of incident that brought tears and mourning does not happen again.
Atah commended President Bola Tinubu’s prompt and decisive response to the brutal killings of innocent civilians in the Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The minister said the president’s visit to Makurdi, just days after the massacre, was a clear demonstration of leadership qualities and genuine empathy.
“President Tinubu, during the visit, condemned the senseless bloodletting and pledged a resolute crackdown that must end the recurrent violence.
“He clarified that his presence was not for ceremonial purposes, but to mourn with victims and restore peace and hope in the region.
“The minister lauds this urgent mobilisation of the full weight of the security architecture: the armed forces under Gen. Musa, the police under IGP Egbetokun, and the intelligence agencies.
“He (president) recognises this as a powerful reflection of the Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to ensuring that no part of this country is left behind in our drive for security, development and equity.”
The minister noted that President Tinubu’s compassionate engagement—visiting survivors at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and meeting directly with local leaders—sends a vital message: the federal government is serious about justice, restoration, and the rebuilding of lives.
He emphasised that long-term peace is essential in Benue -the heart of Nigeria’s agricultural productivity, otherwise known as the ‘Food Basket of the Nation.’
According to Atah, President Tinubu’s call for a peace committee comprising former governors, traditional rulers, and community representatives, as well as the establishment of ranching zones and blood-donation drives, speaks volumes about the integrated and strategic framework being rolled out.
The minister added that “this crisis will be met with the full determination of the federal government,” pledging he stands in solidarity with President Tinubu in delivering justice, compensating victims, rehabilitating displaced families, and securing farmlands from further attacks.
A non-governmental organisation, CBM Global Disability Inclusion has launched the Rights in Action project to address intersectional discrimination and human rights violations faced by Persons With Disabilities(PWDs).
The two year project, funded by the Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be implemented by Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) and Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) in the Federal Capital Territory and Adamawa State.
Country Director of CBM Global Disability Inclusion, Mr Abdulazeez Musa said the project which is an Organisation of Persons With Disabilities(OPDs) aims to address all forms of marginalisation against PWDs.
He said: “The project is being facilitated by CBM Global Disability Inclusion and implemented by our technical partners,Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) and Inclusive Friends Association (IFA).
“Essentially, what the project aims to achieve is to help PWDs to be able to achieve their goals and live their lives with dignity, to enjoy their full fundamental human rights just like anybody else.
“On this project,we will be focusing largely on the marginalised groups because even among PWDs we have those that are also further marginalised.
“So you can imagine the layer of marginalisation and discrimination. An example of such a group are persons with learning difficulty or challenges and sometimes even the deaf community.”
Musa explained that the organisation would work with such groups to strengthen their organisational capacity to be able to design projects, mobilise their members and be able to speak out for themselves.
He said the OPDs would come up with the priorities themselves and design the interventions as they see fit since they know what challenges they are faced with and the technical partners would provide the needed support.
The country director said a key aspect of the project would be to analyse how the community sees PWDs which is at the core of the issues.
Musa said Nigeria is not short of laws because it has passed the Disability Rights Act, however, implementation has been the issue as people continue to see PWDs that they cannot contribute to nation building.
“So this project aims to address that and we hope to see that this law is now being fully implemented which means it’s being allocated funds during the budgeting process and PWDs are living, just like any other person in Nigeria.”
Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), Mrs Grace Jerry said the project would aid in closing the marginalised gaps among PWDs.
Jerry said the expectation of the organisation would be to spotlight the most marginalised organisations who haven’t really been made part of major policies to drive inclusion processes in Nigeria.
She said: “So for us, it is spotlighting those organisations and empowering them to drive policies for themselves, by themselves, and for the general good of the marginalised group.
“For instance, you talk about the deaf-blind community. This is a community of persons with disabilities who haven’t really gained much recognition in terms of their needs and their rights.
“This project,therefore seeks to amplify such marginalised groups and, of course, other groups giving them an opportunity to drive policy for themselves.
President of JONAPWD, Mr Abdullahi Usman the project is expected to ensure that underrepresented groups among PWDs get their own rights like others.
“This is because although collectively, PWDs in this country are fighting for their rights, among ourselves, there are also some PWDs who are also discriminated against within the community.
“For instance, people who have intellectual issues, people with cerebral palsy, the deafblind and persons with albinism are often denied their rights by claiming they are not PWDs.
“So my expectation at the end of this project is to see that other communities of PWDs fully understand that all PWDs have equal rights with all other PWDs and generally as a nation all PWDs have equal rights with people without disabilities.
The Director, Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms Sweet Okundaye, commended CBM Global Disability Inclusion for the initiative and promised the Ministry’s support to the project.
Also, the Desk Officer on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, National Human Rights Commission, Ms Oluchi Adieze, said the commission was established to promote, protect, and enforce the rights of every human living in Nigeria.
Adieze said the commission pledged its support to the project and urged the implementing partners to leverage its state offices to address human rights challenges from the grassroots.
In a decisive move to strengthen governance and transparency in the mining sector, the Kaduna State Government, through the Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC), has convened the inaugural meeting of the Standing Committee on Mining Consent Regulatory Compliance.
The meeting brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including regulatory officials, mining experts, and legal advisors, to formally begin deliberations aimed at refining the mining consent and compliance framework in the state.
At the heart of the discussions was the need to uphold transparency, ensure due process, and promote sustainable practices across all mining operations.
The committee members emphasised the importance of harmonising the regulatory environment to prevent exploitation, environmental degradation, and procedural bottlenecks.
According to KMDC’s Public Relations Officer, Alexandra Ranicar, the committee is expected to play a pivotal role in driving a regulatory culture that aligns with global standards while addressing the unique socio-economic needs of Kaduna State.
“This meeting represents more than a formality—it is a signal of our readiness to create an enabling environment for responsible mining,” Ranicar stated. “We aim to attract credible investors who are committed to compliance and sustainability.”
Participants also explored ways to engage local communities, monitor consent processes more effectively, and provide clear guidelines to prospective operators, laying a foundation for improved collaboration between government and the private sector.
The formation of the committee is seen as a strategic move to position Kaduna as a mining-friendly state where rules are clear, enforcement is consistent, and investments are protected, ensuring that mineral wealth contributes meaningfully to development.
The Niger State Government said over 700 persons are still missing following the recent flooding in Mokwa Community in Mokwa Local Government of the state.
Governor Umaru Bago stated this when he received Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to Gen. Sani Abacha, and his friends on a condolence visit over the recent flood in Minna yesterday.
Bago, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Yakubu Garba, also said that 207 people had been confirmed dead and over 3,000 households displaced.
“Over 700 persons are still missing and we are yet to ascertain where they are. The flooding has caused extensive damage,” he said.
He noted that the flood caused extensive damage with 400 houses damaged while 283 houses and 50 shops were completely destroyed.
He appreciated individuals and corporate organisations for their donations and contributions noting that the incident was a national disaster.
Bago said the state government was working with professional organisations to determine the root cause of the flood and was awaiting assessment results.
Earlier, Al-Mustapha said the visit was to sympathise with Niger government and the people of Mokwa following the devastating flood incident.
“We are here to register our condolences over the flood incident that happened in Mokwa, looking at the heavy loses and its impact on the state
“We will meet with the traditional council, especially the chairman in Mokwa, and pray that the incident doesn’t happen again,” he said.
He noted that the delegation comprised of influential individuals from different parts of the country aimed to offer sympathy and support to the state government and affected communities.
He added that the delegation would meet with traditional council with a focus of finding ways to prevent similar incidents in the future and to improve town planning and living conditions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Al-Mustapha and his delegation earlier paid a visit to former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd).
The Police Command in Niger State said it neutralised a suspected armed robber along Abuja-Kaduna Road and recovered a wooden-carved gun from the suspect.
Its Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said this yesterday in Minna.
According to Abiodun, on June 16, about 5.30a.m, based on credible information, police operatives at Gawu-Babangida Division with some soldiers on a routine patrol along Abuja-Kaduna road, intercepted some suspected armed robbers.
He alleged that in a gun battle that ensued, one of the suspects was neutralised as others escaped with gunshot injuries.
He said the corpse had been deposited at Sabon-Wuse General Hospital morgue , while the wooden gun, just like AK-47 rifle, was recovered from the scene, including one handset with a sim card and charms tied to his waist.
According to him, the handset is being analysed with a view to arresting other members of the gang.
In another development, Abiodun said a man was rescued from being lynched by a mob for allegedly attempting to steal a Bajaj motorcycle near the General Hospital, Minna.
According to the spokesperson, on June 16, at about 4pm, a distress call was received at ‘A’ Division, Minna that a suspected motorcycle thief was arrested and he was about to be lynched by a mob.
The police patrol team of the Division, led by the DPO, immediately rushed to the scene and the suspect, names withheld, who resides in Barkin-Sale, was rescued from the hands of the mob with a Bajaj motorcycle.
He added that the Bajaj motorcycle was what he attempted to steal around the General Hospital, Minna.
Meanwhile, the suspect had been taken into custody and investigation was ongoing near and would be charged to court for prosecution after the investigation.
As the rains return, residents of Abuja brace for yet another season of floods. Authorities have stepped up preparedness—mapping high-risk zones, issuing early warnings, and urging residents to take precaution. Nicholas Kalu and Gbenga Omokhunu report that from clearing drains to planning diversions, efforts are underway to avert disaster and safeguard lives before the annual torrents strike
The rainy season has returned, and with it, a deepening sense of unease in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. In Abuja, where thunderstorms now signal not just nature’s cycle but a looming threat, many residents are bracing for yet another round of flooding—an annual crisis that has come to define the season for vulnerable communities. Weather forecasts have already issued warnings of heavier-than-usual downpours in the coming weeks. For residents of flood-prone areas such as Trademore Estate in Lugbe, Lokogoma, Galadimawa, Karu, Gwagwalada, and sections of Bwari and Kwali, the first sign of rainfall is not met with relief—but dread.
“I don’t sleep once the rains begin,” says Gloria Ashedu, a longtime resident of Trademore Estate. “Last year, water poured into our home so quickly we had to climb on the bed and wait. Everything was destroyed. We were lucky to make it out.”
Her words are calm, but the trauma is unmistakable. The 2023 floods were particularly devastating, submerging roads, destroying homes, and trapping residents in rising waters. In parts of Lugbe and Lokogoma, entire streets vanished under floodwater. Vehicles were swept away. Schools and businesses shuttered. The floods turned daily routines into high-stakes survival, exposing just how vulnerable the city remains.
Trademore Estate, in particular, has become the face of Abuja’s urban flooding woes. Despite its organised layout and middle-class status, its location along a natural floodplain has made it a perennial victim of disaster. Over the years, residents have invested heavily in raising their properties, building culverts, installing pumps, and carving out channels—all in a bid to stay one step ahead of the next downpour. Yet, the water always returns, defying personal efforts and exposing the limits of private resilience.
Urban planners and environmental experts have repeatedly raised concerns about Abuja’s rapid and largely unregulated development. Estates have sprung up across low-lying areas, with little regard for flood mapping or environmental impact. Drainage systems are either absent or grossly inadequate. Even where government agencies issue warnings, enforcement is sporadic, and long-term solutions remain elusive. As the rains begin to fall again, the question looms: how many more flood cycles will it take before policy matches reality, and prevention becomes more than a seasonal afterthought? For now, residents like Gloria can only wait—and pray the waters don’t rise too high.
Further out in Galadimawa and Gwagwalada, the same story of anxiety and loss echoes through communities. Every rainy season, shops are submerged, schools temporarily shut their doors, and families are forced to abandon their homes in search of safer ground. In some neighbourhoods, children wade through knee-deep water just to catch a school bus. For the elderly—especially those living alone—a trip outside during a heavy downpour can pose a grave danger. “It’s not just about losing property,” says Mallam Tijani Aliyu, a long-time resident of Lokogoma. “It’s about the fear that grips you every time the sky turns dark. You don’t know how bad it’s going to be. You just wait—and hope your house is not the next one to go under.”
This fear, shared by many, is compounded by the visible neglect in drainage infrastructure across the city. In numerous districts, clogged and overflowing gutters have become the norm. Open drains spill over during storms, flooding streets and homes with rainwater and refuse. Residents point fingers at indiscriminate waste disposal, poor maintenance of drainage systems, and the unchecked sprawl of urban development.
Even in newer, more upscale estates, where buyers expect better planning and infrastructure, disillusionment runs deep. “You pay a premium to live in these places, believing you’re buying peace of mind,” says Temi Ogunleye, a homeowner in a mid-income estate near Lokogoma. “But once the rains begin, you realise the entire estate was designed without flood management in mind. Sometimes, it feels like we’re building our lives on sand.”
The toll of flooding goes beyond emotional trauma or temporary inconvenience—it exacts a heavy economic cost on the city. Traders lose their goods. Artisans can’t work. Streets become impassable, bringing transportation and commercial activity to a halt. In business hubs like Garki, Jabi, and Nyanya, even a brief but intense storm can shut down entire neighbourhoods for hours. What’s worse, the cycle appears to repeat each year with little official intervention. Emergency response often arrives late—if at all. And while residents patch up their homes and elevate their doorways, the larger systemic failures remain unaddressed.
Although various government agencies continue to pledge improvements in flood response, residents say the reality on the ground tells a different story. Drainage projects are frequently abandoned midstream, community sensitisation is minimal, and relief materials—when they arrive at all—come long after the waters have receded. “Government doesn’t live in these communities. We do,” says Abdulmumin Salihu, a mechanic in Karu. “They only talk on radio. When the rain comes, it’s every man for himself.”
The science reinforces these fears. Abuja’s natural topography—a blend of undulating terrain and crisscrossing fast-moving streams—makes it highly vulnerable to flooding. With unrelenting urbanisation, many of the city’s natural water channels have been narrowed, obstructed, or built over entirely. What were once gentle trickles now turn into violent torrents during the rainy season.
Experts have long warned that without a rigorously implemented city-wide master plan, Abuja’s flood crisis will continue to escalate. Yet, year after year, many communities remain dangerously exposed. In satellite towns such as Kuje and parts of Dei-Dei, residents have resorted to self-help—digging trenches, stacking sandbags, and fashioning makeshift flood barriers out of worn tyres and wooden planks.
At the grassroots, the feeling of abandonment is unmistakable. Small-scale private efforts—community task forces, volunteer emergency responders—have sprung up in some areas. But they remain underfunded, ill-equipped, and disconnected from any formal support system. In Kurudu, mothers huddle at dusk, peering anxiously into rising streams to decide whether their children can safely sleep on the floor or need to be lifted onto furniture propped up by concrete blocks. In Gwagwa, food vendors nervously watch the sky, praying the downpour won’t strike during peak hours—because when the flood comes, it washes away not just their goods, but their livelihoods.
As the rainy season peaks, more storms are expected between July and September. And with every downpour, the widening gap between government assurances and community realities becomes more glaring. For now, Abuja residents continue to brace for the worst—watching the skies, reinforcing their homes, and praying. Some have bought small water pumps and elevated their walls. Others have resigned themselves to fate. “It’s the same every year,” says Tijani Aliyu. “You prepare. You pray. You rebuild. And then it starts all over again.”
To say the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is making efforts to mitigate the impact of this year’s predicted severe flooding may be stating the obvious. But whether these steps are adequate or timely remains a pressing concern. Experts say that to effectively reduce the impact of flooding in the FCT, the administration must go beyond rhetoric—by enforcing building codes, upgrading drainage systems, improving waste management, and addressing the broader impacts of climate change. To its credit, the FCTA has emphasised community preparedness and public awareness, with efforts underway to ensure that residents know evacuation routes and basic safety protocols.
But the urgency of action became stark on May 29, when devastating floods struck Angwan Housawa in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State. The deluge submerged homes and farmlands, claimed lives, and displaced hundreds—underscoring the deadly consequences of unpreparedness. Within the FCT itself, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has identified nine flood-prone communities across different area councils. These include: Lokogoma (AMAC); Pegi (Kuje); Yaba, Gawu, and Guridi (Abaji); Gumbo and Paiko (Kwali); Kubwa and Usuma (Bwari).
The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) insists that precautionary measures have been put in place and that all relevant agencies are on alert to prevent large-scale disasters. Speaking with The Nation, the FEMD Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, said, “We normally rely on early warnings issued by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET). NIHSA has informed us that 1,249 communities across 176 local government areas in 30 states and the FCT are at high flood risk this year. With this information, we launched sensitisation campaigns and started engaging residents in vulnerable areas.”
However, while the message is getting out, the results on the ground remain mixed. In many of the named communities, residents continue to express concerns over poor drainage systems, unfinished flood control projects, and inadequate support during past flooding incidents. As Abuja’s climate vulnerability intensifies, the test lies not only in how swiftly government agencies respond to warnings, but in how effectively they empower citizens to face an increasingly volatile environment. For many across the FCT, it’s not just about rain—it’s about survival.
According to Isa, proactive steps have been taken in anticipation of the looming flood season. “This year, NIHSA provided us with a detailed outlook of potential flood-prone areas within the FCT. They also warned of likely flash floods across the territory. Based on that, we’ve been carefully studying the terrain and identified locations at heightened risk,” she said.
Among the areas highlighted by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency are Lokogoma, Pegi, Yaba, Gawu, Guridi, Gumbo, Paiko, Kubwa, and Usuma—communities already familiar with the annual toll of torrential rains. “We’ve been educating residents on what to do before, during, and after the rains,” Isa explained. “We’ve advised them to clear their drains, remove obstructions from water channels, and those whose houses are dangerously close to waterways have been told to consider relocating to safer, elevated ground.”
With predictions that June will see intense rainfall, the department has intensified its public sensitisation efforts, using radio and television platforms to reach residents. “We’ve been warning people not to drive through flooded roads. It only takes a few minutes of heavy downpour for disaster to strike,” she said.
Isa also recounted FEMD’s swift response to the tragic flooding that occurred in Mokwa, Niger State, on May 29. “Immediately, we activated our town criers and local divers across the area councils and in other flood-prone zones. It’s part of our grassroots alert system.” She expressed concern over ongoing construction on waterways in certain parts of Abuja. “In some communities within AMAC, especially around Apo-Dutse, people are still building on water channels. We’ve flagged these violations and reported them to the relevant security agencies.”
In a more immediate intervention, she revealed, “We are planning to block a major road near Galadimawa Roundabout to curb the flow of floodwater in that axis. Our search and rescue team is also on standby. They’ve undergone recent training sessions to ensure rapid response when emergencies arise.” Encouragingly, Isa noted a growing sense of responsibility among some residents: “In several of the communities we’ve visited, we’ve seen people clearing out their drains. That kind of awareness and action is what we’re working to promote.”
As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrives Benue State for a high-stakes meeting with Governor Hyacinth Alia over the Yelewata massacre, renowned policy analyst and APC chieftain from Anambra State, Pharmacist Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu Klinsmann, has urged the Federal and Benue State Governments to embark on urgent, coordinated, and strategic interventions to restore peace and stability to the embattled state.
Klinsmann described the recent Yelewata attack in Guma Local Government Area where over 100 lives were lost, as “a grim reminder that the clock has run out on half-measures and empty condolences.”
In a statement in Abuja, he said: “Tomorrow’s meeting between the President and Governor Alia is a defining moment in the history of Benue. It must not end in photo ops and press sound bites – it must produce measurable outcomes.”
Calling for the establishment of a legally backed Benue State Community Security Corps, Klinsmann cited the South-West’s Amotekun Corps as a viable model.
“We need a vigilant, community-based force equipped to gather local intelligence and respond swiftly to threats. This is not theory – it worked in Ondo, Oyo, and Ekiti, and it can work in Benue,” he said.
Citing an example from India, Klinsmann recalled that Rajasthan’s rural constabulary system empowered local recruits to manage rural crime, reducing violent incidents by over 30% between 2008 and 2015.
“And in the case of Kenya, the Nyumba Kumi community policing program created neighborhood watch systems which, when supported by local chiefs, successfully curbed inter-ethnic violence in the Rift Valley,” noted Klinsmann.
The APC chieftain further cited the case of South Africa’s Rural Safety Plan, which according to a 2022 report, saw to a 40% decline in farm attacks after deploying specialized rural task forces and drone surveillance. He urged the Federal Government to complement the Benue State Community Security Corps with joint military-police task forces supported by drones and satellite surveillance, while Governor Alia should operationalize community security networks capable of reporting threats in real time.
Klinsmann also pressed for an aggressive transition from open grazing to structured, clustered ranching.
“The President must fast-track the National Livestock Transformation Plan in Benue, while offering financial and technical support for ranch development,” he stated.
He noted that Benue’s anti-grazing law, if strictly enforced with federal support, could reduce herder-farmer clashes dramatically. Klinsmann also advised the Benue State Government to enact land use charters, reinstate firm enforcement of the grazing law, and resource monitoring teams with vehicles and equipment.
He said according to a 2020 Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) report, Kenya’s Galana-Kulalu Model created grazing reserves with water points, reducing farmer-herder clashes by 50%. Another example was the Communal Conservancy Model of Namibia, which provided herders with defined grazing zones and communal security, reducing inter-group clashes and increasing productivity.
Advocating for early warning systems and digital alert mechanisms, Klinsmann emphasised the Federal Government and the Benue State Government must adopt mobile apps, SMS hotlines, and community radio networks integrated into policing dashboards.
He called for the deployment of additional tactical units, including drones and rapid-response teams, to Benue’s most vulnerable areas, such as Guma, Agatu, Otutkpo and Logo LGAs, along with the establishment of joint operations units combining military, police, and local vigilantes to enhance intelligence-sharing and responsiveness. Klinsmann referenced success stories from Colombia, Uganda, and the Philippines, stating, “A simple alert system can prevent mass death – this is low-cost, high-impact intervention.”
He also called for the establishment of a permanent Benue Peace & Dialogue Forum, inclusive of traditional rulers, youth, women, and religious leaders.
“This approach mirrors the successful Jos Peace Dialogue Forum in Plateau State, which significantly de-escalated violence through inclusive dialogue from 2013–2015.
“What worked in Jos, Rwanda, South Sudan and Northern Ireland can work in Benue State. Dialogue, when institutionalized, is a potent antidote to recurring violence,” he said.
He urged President Tinubu to fund professional mediators and trauma counselors, while Governor Alia should convene a reconciliation summit within 30 days, backed by a white paper identifying culprits and victims of the Yelewata tragedy.
Klinsmann called for the creation of a Benue Youth Peace Corps for disarmament and reintegration of youths previously involved in violence. Drawing parallels from Sierra Leone and Colombia, he argued that “rehabilitation plus vocational training equals peace.” He stressed that idle, traumatized youths cannot be ignored in any genuine peace effort.
Raising the critical issue of internal sabotage, Klinsmann urged President Tinubu to order a full review of military and police operations in Benue, including the replacement of underperforming commanders and probing insider threats.
He advised Governor Alia to ensure transparency and follow through on allegations of complicity within security ranks. “Iraq’s battle against ISIS turned when insider threats were purged – Benue must learn from that,” he warned.
On humanitarian response, Klinsmann emphasised that beyond military deployments, victims and displaced persons must receive tangible support.
He called on the Presidency to release emergency funds through NEMA to provide food, medical aid, and psychosocial support to displaced persons in camps like the Ultra-Modern International Market in Makurdi. Klinsmann also advocated the rebuilding of destroyed schools and clinics, and commissioning of federal land-use mapping and technical support for ranch development.
He also urged the Governor to expand shelter facilities, partner with NGOs, and introduce vocational programs for displaced persons to regain self-sufficiency.
Quoting post-conflict successes in Rwanda and Northern Ireland, Klinsmann argued that Benue’s crisis is not insurmountable if approached with the right blend of political will, community engagement, and international best practices. “The violence in Benue is solvable. What we need is courage, strategy, and urgency,” he said.
Reiterating his call for measurable action, Klinsmann declared: “This is not the time for ambiguity. The people of Benue are watching, bleeding, and counting on leadership. Let this visit by President Tinubu be remembered not for the speeches delivered, but for the lives saved and the peace restored.”
Former senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of the Benue South Comrade Daniel Onjeh has expressed concerns over the tragic massacre in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday night.
According to reports, over 200 persons were brutally murdered in a coordinated attack allegedly carried out by militias.
Onjeh condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms and consoled the families and communities affected by the heinous crime, calling it a national emergency that demands urgent and holistic action.
He emphasised the Yelwata killings should not be mistaken for the often-cited farmers-herders conflict, asserting that such a narrative is now outdated and misleading.
“Do farmers still cultivate the soil in this era of unpredictable violence and mayhem? And do we still see genuine herders grazing in Benue?”Onjeh asked.
He added that the children killed in the massacre were students, not farmers, and they were murdered in their rooms, not on the farm, slugging it out with herders.
According to him, the people of Benue have long been displaced from their farmlands, and many herders have equally fled or ceased operations in the state due to the state government’s enforcement of its Anti-Open Grazing Law.
“Most of the cows you see around now,” he explained, “are for some sacred Benue Senior citizens who are flagrantly violating the Anti-Open grazing law.”
Therefore, he argued, there is no longer a basis for the continued framing of the conflict as one between herders and farmers.
Instead, the attacks are being perpetrated by criminal militias, both external and external and indigenous, who are often available for hire by political actors and heartless criminal masterminds.
Onjeh, a former Chairman of the Governing Board of PRODA, Enugu, reiterated his consistent stance against ethnic profiling, noting that while criminal elements exist in all ethnic groups, the pattern of violence in Benue State points to an organised militia with Fulani elements at the centre.
He cautioned that referring to these actors as “herdsmen” dignifies their criminality and offers them a form of communal protection. “Let us make a clear distinction: calling them herdsmen grants them legitimacy and shields them behind a recognised trade. These are not herders; they are militias and available to the highest bidder,” he stated.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to see the Benue crisis through a broader and more nuanced lens.
While he acknowledged the President’s directive following the Yelwata massacre as a step in the right direction, he cautioned that such measures would remain superficial unless the root causes of the crisis are addressed.
These include political sabotage, militia infiltration, and land encroachment by armed groups.
Onjeh praised Governor Hyacinth Alia for his efforts to develop the state, noting that despite the insecurity, Alia’s administration has outperformed all previous ones in the Fourth Republic.
He alleged that a cabal of political actors within and outside Benue State has persistently sought to sabotage Alia’s administration—from attempts to hijack the State House of Assembly to influencing the National Assembly to block local government allocations.
These efforts, Onjeh claimed, were meant to destabilise governance and create room for political opportunism.
When these machinations failed, he said, the judiciary was targeted next in a bid to unseat duly elected APC local government chairmen to share state power and resources with the governor.
Though they attained partial success at the tribunal, principled judges at the appellate level restored order in the preservation of the dignity and sanctity of the judiciary in Benue State.
Frustrated, Onjeh alleged, these desperate elements have now turned to weaponising insecurity, using it as a final resort to break the will of the Alia administration and destabilise Benue with the view to eliciting the misapplication of the state of emergency rule. This situation will perpetually remain within the figment of their imagination without true expression in reality.
Onjeh also reacted to calls for self-defence by some stakeholders across the country, saying that at this point this appears inevitable as the people have been pushed to the wall.
However, he cautioned the FG to take urgent steps to stem the tides of insecurity in Nigeria to prevent a descent into anarchy because the people have run out of patience.
If this is not done, he argued, people will be forced to take up arms to defend themselves and this might plunge the nation into turmoil.
“While community policing and forest guards could bolster security, arming non-state actors is a recipe for long-term disaster and could ignite ethnic and religious crises across Nigeria,” Onjeh added.
To forestall that, he advocated for the full deployment of military resources, including surveillance and combat helicopters, across Benue and neighbouring states.
He also called for increased collaboration with traditional rulers, community leaders, and security agencies to address the root of the crisis.
He urged the President to extend military presence to all border areas of Benue State, particularly those bordering Nasarawa, Taraba, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Cross River States.
According to him, militias often retreat into neighbouring states after launching attacks in Benue, using these areas as operational bases, especially in Nasarawa state. This makes interstate and regional cooperation critical to restoring peace.
He stated that the establishment of a state police can go a long way to tackle insecurity in Nigeria as it will increase the number of security agents across the country and increase the area effectively policed.
He stated that the indigenous officers of state police forces know the land and people better, and working with other security agents, such as the proposed Forest Guards, they can help reduce the attacks on innocent rural communities.
Commenting on the recent protests in Makurdi following the Yelwata massacre, Onjeh acknowledged the genuine grief of the people but warned against infiltration, hijack and manipulation by political actors.
He cautioned that continued polarisation would only embolden the terrorists, who seek to spread fear and division. “Benue people must unite now more than ever. Insecurity thrives in disunity,” he said.
He further referenced the heroism of local police in Yelwata, who initially bravely repelled the attackers but were overwhelmed by their numbers.
He highlighted the dire shortage of security personnel in rural areas and called on the Federal Government to increase the number of security operatives in the state.
He also advocated for community hotlines and early warning systems to help quicken response times in the face of imminent attacks.
Onjeh called on members of the National Assembly to urgently pass laws that prescribe stiffer penalties for kidnapping, terrorism, and banditry. Extant laws on these crimes are mild on offenders, he said.
He questioned the suspicious timing of the attack, noting that it occurred less than 24 hours after a mammoth crowd in Makurdi publicly endorsed President Tinubu and Governor Alia for second terms. “Could this be more than a coincidence?” he asked.
“The current stance and statements attributed to Senator Abbah Moro in which he disparages Governor Alia ostensibly on account of the security situation in Benue State (which the APC inherited from PDP’s Governor Ortom) are mind-boggling,” Onjeh stated.
This is so because Senator Moro did not raise a finger when a worse situation persisted during Ortom’s tenure in which there were televised mass burials of victims of militia killings.
When there was a deadly, unprovoked attack on his community, Edumoga, he was alleged to have blamed the youths for killing cows and causing the brutal attack by Fulani militias.
“Today, though,”Onjeh stressed, “he has found it convenient to be at the vanguard of the vitriolic attacks on Governor Alia.” Such a stance by people like Senator Moro, he added, raises the question of whether or not this crisis is a consequence of the stiff political opposition confronting Governor Alia from within and (mostly) without Benue–Abuja in particular.
Onjeh urged the Federal Government to disregard propaganda aimed at painting Governor Alia as incompetent.
He reminded the nation that the Governor has no control over the armed forces or federal police, but has consistently provided operational support to security agencies.
He called for better coordination between state and federal actors and warned against pampering disgruntled politicians and their collaborators. He urged the “fumigation” of the political and traditional institutions within and outside the state to rid them of individuals allegedly complicit in the crisis.
“President Tinubu should take Governor Alia’s words seriously, especially if his committee on insecurity has made a sterling revelation about some political actors behind these attacks. The time for rhetoric has passed. This is a national emergency. The world is watching. Even the Pope has prayed for Benue over the Yelwata killings. The President must now act decisively and justly to restore peace in Benue State.”
The new leadership of Ochetoha K’Idoma Forum, an apex socio-cultural body for Idoma nation, has continued its consultation with stakeholders across Idoma land, particularly within Benue South Senatorial district, few days after its emergence.
Latest of its visits was at the ancient Palace of the Och’Idoma in Otukpo, where His Royal Majesty, Agaba Idu, Dr. Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, CON, Och’Idoma V., received the Ochetoha K’Idoma top officials, led by the Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu.
The visit, which marked the first formal engagement of the Forum’s new National Executive Council with the traditional institution, carried the weight of tradition and the energy of renewal.
It was a symbolic homecoming and an institutional recommitment to mutual respect, unity, and shared responsibility between the royal stool and the socio-cultural custodian of Idoma identity.
The Royal Majesty made clear the role of the throne as the moral compass and custodian of legitimacy for all bodies acting in the name of the Idoma Nation.
He declared with conviction, “The throne is not in competition with Ochetoha K’Idoma. It is your root. And every tree that forgets its root cannot grow.”
He urged the leadership of the Forum to stay focused on the sacred mission of safeguarding Idoma values, enhancing development, and speaking for the voiceless in these uncertain times.
“You are the collective conscience of the people. When you speak, let your words carry both wisdom and the weight of history. Go and succeed with my blessing,” the monarch said, offering prayers and encouragement.
Earlier, President-General of Ochetoha K’Idoma, Professor Ochefu, accompanined by the Forum’s Secretary-General Chief Dr. Paul Edeh and members of the National Executive Council, extended deep gratitude to His Royal Majesty for his fatherly reception and insightful counsel.
The President-General assured that under his stewardship, the Forum would not only maintain its foundational principles but also scale new heights of institutional effectiveness.
He highlighted five thematic focus areas of the Forum to include unity of purpose among Idoma people at home and in the diaspora, cultural preservation in the face of modern erosion, policy advocacy on security and infrastructure, youth development through education and innovation, and coordinated engagement with government and private actors for economic revitalization.
“Our customs must not erode in the face of modernity,” Ochefu said. “We will safeguard our heritage while equipping our youth for the future. With your guidance, we shall anchor our agenda on respect, renewal, and relevance.”
The President-General also pledged to maintain a steady consultative relationship with the Palace, recognising the throne as a source of wisdom, stability, and historical continuity.
Also, the Forum’s National leadership met with the elected Chairmen of Local Government Councils in Benue South Senatorial District (Zone C), with signaling a renewed commitment to building a secure and forward-looking homeland.
Present at the high-level engagement were the Chairmen of Agatu, Apa, Ogbadibo, Okpokwu, and Otukpo LGAs. Representing other Council Chairmen, they brought voices from across the zone into what many described as a long-overdue dialogue on the future of the Idoma people.
Professor Ochefu, while addressing the gathering, underscored the historical context and urgency of unity.
He stressed that the socio-economic aspirations of the Idoma Nation must be anchored in deliberate planning, educational empowerment, and collective effort.
Drawing attention to underutilised development assets such as the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Otobi Dam, and the strategic Oju Road corridor, he called for joint advocacy to make these assets engines of growth.
Nigerian youths have been urged to recommit themselves to building a better nation by actively supporting the current administration’s pragmatic and inclusive socio-political and economic policies and programmes.
A public policy advocate and strong proponent of youth inclusion, Dr. Raymond Edoh, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in promoting democratic governance and driving economic revitalization as Nigeria marks this year’s Democracy Day.
He noted that the President’s policies, which encourage investment and infrastructure development, deserve the support of all Nigerians, especially the youth, whom he has given ample reason to believe in and promote.
Speaking on the theme of the day, ‘Renewing Our Commitment to Democracy’, Dr. Edoh emphasized that the celebration is not just symbolic but a reminder of the ongoing struggle to strengthen democratic institutions and uphold the values of equity, freedom, and justice.
“His administration has demonstrated a will to implement reforms that promote national unity and inclusiveness.
“These steps are crucial for sustainable growth,” he noted.
While he stressed that Nigeria’s progress must go hand in hand with active youth participation, the youth advocate noted that with young people making up more than half of Nigeria’s population, the younger generation must see themselves not merely as beneficiaries of governance but as co-architects of the country’s future.
“We cannot afford to sit back and complain. We must engage, vote, build businesses, and hold leaders accountable through the right channels,” he said.
Referencing a National Bureau of Statistics report projecting a 3.3% economic growth for 2025, Edoh maintained that youth innovation and entrepreneurship will be essential to sustaining this momentum.
“Our generation must be the one that transforms Nigeria, not through protest alone, but through purposeful engagement, education, and enterprise,” he said.
Noting that the nation’s unity is not negotiable, Edoh said, “For Nigeria to achieve its full potential, we must embrace our diversity and work together for the common good. This involves recognizing and celebrating our differences while striving towards our shared goals.
“President Tinubu’s administration has taken steps towards fostering national unity, exemplified by policies aimed at inclusivity.
“The achieved balance between regional development and political representation is crucial for a harmonious society. National cohesion is fundamental for preventing conflict and promoting economic stability”.
Edoh also spotlighted education as a key driver of change, citing UNESCO data, calling for greater investment in knowledge and skills, stressing that an educated population is vital for economic resilience and poverty reduction.
