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  • Benue killings and the President’s visit

    Benue killings and the President’s visit

    By Bridget Tikyaa

    On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in Benue State for the first time since assuming office two years ago. An unplanned visit necessitated by the massive carnage and displacement of law-abiding citizens by murderous gunmen who wantonly attacked two communities in the state. There were other attacks before now, and the attendant displacements and deaths of community members.

    The latest, however, pricked nerves and generated massive outrage within and outside Nigeria. The recent attacks on Yelewata and Daudu have resulted in significant displacement and loss of lives. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), over 6,527 individuals have been displaced, comprising 1,069 households, among them 1,768 females,  759 males, 657 children under 18, 1,870 adults,  252 lactating mothers,  82 pregnant women and 91 elderly persons.

    READ ALSO: Governor Umo Eno and the lynch mob

    Local reports also indicate that over 200 people were killed in the two communities. This figure did not include injuries and casualties among security personnel. Two soldiers and one security defence officer lost their lives in an ambush while responding to the incident in Daudu. There were dozens who sustained injuries, with 46 individuals rushed to hospitals, and 20 later said to have succumbed to their injuries.

    Indeed, as the President said during the visit, the scale of destruction and loss is heartbreaking. It was a sad moment for all, a very difficult moment for not just the victims but also the state governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, who has repeatedly strongly condemned the violent attacks on defenceless people, describing them as vicious and unacceptable, and working with security agencies, traditional rulers, and residents to find lasting solutions to the crisis. He has also worked with the federal government to increase security presence in affected areas.

    Governor Alia has variously appealed to the federal government to urgently address the worsening insecurity in the state, emphasizing the need for decisive action to end the killings.

    He has advocated for community policing as the most effective approach to addressing the state’s security challenges.

    Alia believes that local communities are best positioned to understand their security needs and should be empowered to support policing efforts. These, he also echoed during the President’s visit, when he appealed to President Tinubu to back the creation of state police, highlighting it as a viable and sustainable approach to addressing insecurity. He argued that state governors need the necessary tools to respond effectively to security challenges within their domain.

    Governor Alia also urged the federal government to establish a special intervention fund for communities affected by insurgency, to provide relief for displaced persons, and to mitigate their hardships.

    On his part, the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, took time to address misinformation and mischaracterisation, saying that land grabbing is at the core of the decades-long conflict.

    “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 cautioned that mischaracterising the crisis had led to inadequate responses and accused some political actors of exploiting the situation for selfish gain.

    “We hear that some politicians would even prefer that the crisis worsens, so it would serve as a basis for declaring a state of emergency. This is unfortunate. Any politician who prays for more people to die for such a project is working against the wishes of the people of Benue State,” the Tor Tiv said, and appealed to President Tinubu to restore peace to the state and every part of Nigeria.

    “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. I heard a story about a challenge in a place in Kwara State, and you rose and gave them peace in Kaiama. You can do that for Benue.”

    In all of these, President Tinubu delivered some powerful messages of hope to the people of Benue State.

    “To the good people of Benue, I see your pain. I feel it with you. And I assure you, we will not leave you behind. We will restore peace, rebuild, and bring the perpetrators to justice. You are not alone,” he said.

    Apart from challenging security agencies to go after the perpetrators and bring them to justice, President Tinubu said ranching will bring greater solution to the conflict with herders, protect local farmers, and enhance local economy. The President, who emphasized the importance of establishing ranches to curb the indiscriminate movement of livestock, assured that the federal government would provide the necessary support to the state government in setting up the ranches.

    Another message from the President is for the state government to constitute an inclusive peace committee aimed at proffering lasting solutions to the conflicts in the state. He recommended that the peace committee should consist of respected statesmen, including former governors, traditional rulers, and key stakeholders, and promised to sit with the committee in Abuja for deeper deliberations on how to achieve enduring peace in Benue State.

    Tinubu’s most profound message was to the security agencies. He told them that their best is not enough, he expressed dissatisfaction with the efforts of the Inspector General of Police, and he questioned why no arrest has been made in connection with the killings. He also called on the Chief of Defence Staff and the Director General of the Department of State Services to intensify efforts in tackling the persistent attacks in Benue and other troubled parts of the country.

    Hopefully, this visit will culminate in a more united and decisive action, not just to save lives, but to scorch out the murderous herders, local militias and their collaborators, so that Benue will have peace.

    • Bridget Tikyaa is Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media Publicity and Communications Strategy

  • New Amazons of Nigeria hail Tinubu’s FCT projects, decry Benue killings

    New Amazons of Nigeria hail Tinubu’s FCT projects, decry Benue killings

    As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks his second year in office, the New Amazons of Nigeria have praised the administration for its ongoing commissioning of transformative infrastructure projects across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

    The women-led civic organization described the projects as a “clear reflection” of the Renewed Hope Agenda in action.

    In a statement on Friday by its National Coordinator, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, the group highlighted the strategic importance of newly commissioned developments including the Mabushi and Kugbo Bus Terminals, the Wole Soyinka/Onex Interchange Bridge, dualized roads in Bwari, and collector routes linking major arterial roads across Abuja.

    “These projects are already redefining mobility, access, and economic potential across the Territory,” the statement reads. 

    “We applaud the President for backing vision with action. His commitment to building infrastructure that directly benefits the people; creating jobs, easing transportation, and enhancing daily living is evident and commendable.”

    READ ALSO: Lagos ‘Band A’ residents beg IKEDC over prolonged blackout, faulty transformer

    The group also commended the Minister of the FCT, Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike for what it called a “resounding continuation of his legacy of transformational leadership.” 

    The statement described Wike’s tenure has been marked by “bold planning and accelerated delivery,” echoing his achievements as former Governor of Rivers State, where he executed over a thousand development projects.

    “These projects represent the lived reality of governance that works,” the group added.

    However, amid the celebration of national progress, the New Amazons of Nigeria turned attention to recent tragedies in Benue State, where violent attacks in Yelwata town claimed the lives of several defenceless women and children.

    “We condemn these senseless killings in the strongest possible terms,” the group stated. “Violence against civilians, especially the most vulnerable among us, has no place in our society. We urge security agencies to act decisively, and we call on community and national leaders to rise above political or ethnic divides and restore peace and justice.”

    The organisation emphasized the sanctity of life and the need for peace as a foundation for sustained development. “As mothers, daughters, sisters, and nation-builders, we believe every Nigerian life is sacred. Peace is the bedrock upon which progress must stand.”

    The New Amazons concluded by calling on Nigerians to unite in support of the administration’s developmental goals, urging citizens to promote peace and national cohesion.

  • Benue Killings: PGF backs Tinubu’s stance on security

    Benue Killings: PGF backs Tinubu’s stance on security

    The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) has declared its full support for President Bola Tinubu’s response to the recent killings in Benue.

    Chairman of the PGF and Gov. of Imo, Hope Uzodimma made this known to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, after a meeting with some progressive governors.

    He said that the Forum stood united with the President in his resolve to end violent attacks and hold the perpetrators accountable.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Tinubu had earlier on Wednesday, visited Benue to condole with Gov. Hyacinth Alia over the killings in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of the state.

    He said: “The Progressives Governors Forum is fully in support of President Tinubu’s position on the Benue killings”.

    “We were in Benue state, first, to show solidarity to our colleague, the Governor of Benue state.

    “To condole with him for that unfortunate incident and also, encourage Mr President in his efforts to address this situation in Benue state which continues to repeat itself.

    “We are satisfied with the position of Mr President on his planned action to stop further killings and violence, not only in Benue state, but almost in every part of the country.

    “Arising from that, we just rose from a meeting where we also discussed the state of the nation and the need for the sub-national governments to take security up to the rural communities.

    Read Also: Benue killings: President goes hard on Security chiefs

    “Henceforth, we must do everything, whatever it will take, to protect lives and property in Nigeria which is the primary essence of government”.

    The governor also commended the President for all the strides and achievements he had recorded in two years.

    “We are satisfied by the way he is going and in the very nearest future, Nigeria will come out of this and prosperity will become the order of the day.

    “So we encourage all of us Nigerians and condole the families of those involved in the unfortunate incidents in the state and other parts of the country.

    “And we are showing our people who voted us to power that we have buckled up and we have braced up.

    “We are ensuring to provide to the security agencies everything that they require to ensure that every space, the governed and the ungoverned is adequately protected”.

    On what is the Forum’s recommendation to the President, Uzodimma said “If you listened well to the President, he even recommended that he is willing to support Benue State to establish a ranch.

    “I think what that goes to show is that to encourage harmonious relationships between herders and farmers so there will be a win-win situation.

    “It is not meant to impute any motive or theory that will not encourage the unity of this country.

    “We appreciate and commend the President for his speech and the position he has taken and the governor in his speech also recommended state police.

    “There is no difference between state police and community police. So it is decentralising security.

    “There will be a technical committee that will look at all the issues and put together a working paper for the governors going forward,” he said.
    (NAN) 

  • Benue killings: President goes hard on Security chiefs

    Benue killings: President goes hard on Security chiefs

    Security chiefs were put on the spot yesterday by the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The President took them to task as to why none of the criminals on the rampage in Benue State had been arrested, in spite of the extensive dastardly act.

    He challenged them to do more and end the killing spree in the state.

    He promised to keep the security chiefs on their toes until the menace is effectively checked, the killers of 147 people in Yelewata are apprehended and peace returns to the troubled communities.

    President Tinubu gave the marching orders to security chiefs during his one-day visit to the state for a first-hand information on the situation. He also visited victims of the weekend’s attack on the Yelewata community in the hospital.

    The Yelewata attack was the most recent in the spate of attacks on different communities in the state in which no fewer than 500 people had been killed since the beginning of this year.

    Speaking during the stakeholders meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, the state capital, the President turned to Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and asked: “How come no one has been arrested for committing this heinous crime in Yelewata? Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests? The criminals must be arrested immediately.”

    President Tinubu also directed the DSS and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify surveillance, gather actionable intelligence and collaborate with local communities to apprehend the perpetrators.

    At the meeting were security chiefs, Benue political leaders and top traditional rulers.

    Also at the meeting were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Governors AbdulRaheem AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa),

    The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, told the President that Benue is facing a calculated genocidal herder-terrorist invasion, urging him to act with speed to save the hapless communities.

    He said the bandits were on land grabbing expedition in Benue as they are doing in Plateau State.

    Governor Hyacinth Alia, who renewed his call for state police, also requested a special intervention fund from the Federal Government to tackle rising humanitarian crisis.

    President said: “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.

    “I wanted to come here to commission projects, to reassure you of hope and prosperity,—not to see gloomy faces. But peace is vital for development. The value of human life is greater than that of a cow. We were elected to govern, not to bury people.

    “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 that peace. You must also work with us.

    “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.”

    We need intervention fund, state police, says Alia

    Alia thanked the President for the visit, urging him to create a Special Federal Intervention Fund to aid communities ravaged by repeated attacks.

    He said the fund would assist the victims to rebuild their lives and restore the infrastructures that were destroyed.

    Read Also: Benue killings: When graveyards replace farmlands

    Fr. Alia said: “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 in Benue.

    “While I acknowledge the concerns surrounding its implementation, I believe the Federal Government can address these by setting clear state-specific guidelines and regulatory frameworks to prevent any potential misuse.”

    The governor reaffirmed his support for the establishment of state police as a long-term solution to insecurity.

    He also reiterated his commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous Benue.

    Tor Tiv: It is land grabbing expedition

    The Chairman of the Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Paramount ruler of the Tiv, the majority tribe in the state, Prof.  Ayatse, praised President Tinubu for visiting the victims.

    He also thanked him for the inclusion of Benue indigenes in his administration, particularly Akume and Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev.

    However, the monarch said mischaracterising the violence as “herder-farmer clashes” or “communal disputes” only masked the true nature of the conflict.

    He said: “We do have grave concerns about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue State. Your Excellency, it’s not headers-farmers clashes; it’s not communal clashes; it’s not reprisal attacks or skirmishes.

    “It is this misinformation that has led to suggestions such as ‘remain tolerant, negotiate for peace, learn to live with your neighbours’.

    “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, which has been going on for decades and is worsening every year.

    “Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment. So, we are dealing with something far more sinister than we think about. It’s not learning to live with your neighbors; it is dealing with the war.”

    The Tor Tiv said the Tiv people in Nasarawa State were suffering the same fate, pointing out that they too had been chased away from their ancestral homes in some local governments.

    Prof. Ayatse said Tiv lands have been taken from them by those who now label them as settlers.

    He stressed: “They have been in Nasarawa State before the 18th century. They cannot be settlers. They need to go back to their ancestral homes to continue with their lives.”

    The monarch said the political manipulation of the crisis has worsened the situation.

    He said: “We hear that some politicians would even prefer that the crisis worsens, so it would serve as a basis for declaring a state of emergency. This is unfortunate.”

    Prof. Ayatse said if the President could halt the Kaiama crisis in Kwara State, he has the capacity to end the turmoil in Benue.

    He appealed to President Tinubu to act decisively, noting that Benue had made immense sacrifices for national unity.

    The Tor Tiv said: “Your Excellency, Benue State has made a lot of sacrifices to keep this country united. Many of our people died during the civil war. We paid the supreme price to keep this country united. Why should we be treated like this?

    “What you have come to condole today is just one in a series of several massacres in the state. What has Benue State done to merit what we are going through?

    “We appeal to you to end the genocide going on in Benue State and the insecurity in all parts of Nigeria. We know you are capable of doing it, sir. You can give us peace in Benue State.”

    He added: “Our farmers have been chased out of their farms. There is hunger; there is a food insecurity challenge. All we ask is: give us peace, so that our people can go back to their farms and continue to produce food.”

    Urging the President to save Benue from extinction, Prof. Ayatse said: “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.”

    Massive crowds welcome Tinubu into Makurdi

    Hundreds of people welcomed President Tinubu into Makurdi.

    Despite the heavy  morning downpour, many people took strategic position on the roadside and waved to Mr. President as his convoy drove past .

    Okada riders went after the convoy singing.

    The convoy headed straight for the Government House, venue of the town hall meeting.

  • Benue killings: When graveyards replace farmlands

    Benue killings: When graveyards replace farmlands

    • By Janet Gbam and Kamo Sende

    Sunday morning brought news that would haunt any reasonable person: over 100 people had been slaughtered in their sleep in Yelewata. These were not soldiers fallen in battle or armed combatants engaged in conflict. (Even then, everyone deserves justice and protection from arbitrary killings) – they were farmers, women, and children murdered in their own homes, their lives snuffed out of them like it held no value.

    As lawyers who grew up in Benue – the food basket of the nation – we have watched our homeland transform from a place renowned for its hospitality and agrarian promise into something resembling a graveyard. The tragedy in Yelewata was devastating enough, but what happened in its aftermath revealed something even more sinister about the soul and priorities of our state.

    Young people took to the streets of Makurdi, the state’s capital, to mourn. They gathered not with weapons or threats, but with placards and tears, demanding answers for the bloodbath that had consumed their people. They exercised their fundamental right of expression, protected under Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

    The response from the authorities was swift and brutal. Teargas canisters flew. Protesters were bundled into unmarked vehicles by faceless operatives. Harry Nyam, Omo-Benue (a content creator) and many others whose only weapons were chants, cameras and placards, were detained, battered, and dumped back on the streets hours later – Their only crime was that they cared enough to grieve and demand accountability from authorities. The message and violent response from the authorities was clear: your pain is not welcome here.

    This is what our Benue has become. A place where massacre is met with silence from those in power, but mourning is met with violence. Over 100 people were burned alive in their own homes, yet the leadership has shown no direction. Young people daring to cry out became the real threat to public order.

    We are witnessing the criminalisation of grief itself. Nigeria’s obligations under Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees the right to life, and Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines the right to life, liberty, and security, have been grotesquely violated. When governments fear tears more than they fear the blood that caused them, we have crossed into territories that should terrify every Nigerian.

    The legal implications are staggering. Beyond our constitutional guarantees under Sections 39 and 40, which protect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, Nigeria has binding international commitments. Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects freedom of expression, yet these rights evaporated the moment they became inconvenient for a government that prefers silent suffering to public accountability.

    Read Also: ACF, Sultan condemn Yelwata killings, urge urgent security action in Benue

    The arbitrary detention of protesters, even if for a few hours, violates Section 35 of our Constitution and Article 12 of the African Charter, which protects the right to security and freedom of movement. But beyond constitutional and international law breaches, this represents the death of basic human decency in governance.

    Consider the twisted logic: those who slaughtered over 100 innocent people roam free, whilst those who demanded justice for the slaughtered were hunted down like criminals. The killers face no consequences, but the mourners face teargas and detention. This is moral bankruptcy in action.

    The timing makes it even more obscene.

    These attacks happened during farming season, when our agricultural communities should be planting hope for the future. Instead, they are burying their children.

     The impact is profoundly gendered; women and children bear the brunt of such violence.

    Under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Maputo Protocol, Nigeria has committed to protecting women from violence, yet the recurring violence in Benue demonstrates the stark gap between legal commitments and lived realities.

    We refuse to accept this normalisation of both mass murder and the suppression of legitimate grief. As lawyers, we understand that these are not just constitutional violations but breaches of Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. As human beings, we understand that grief is not a crime to be punished but a sacred response to loss that demands respect.

    The message from our leaders is chilling: we will not protect you from slaughter, we will not acknowledge your pain, and we will definitely punish you for refusing to be silent. This is not governance. It is state oppression and cowardice wrapped in the language of maintaining public order.

    Every society reveals its character in how it treats the grieving. What does ours say about us?

    • Gbam is an International Human Rights lawyer and researcher dedicated to promoting justice, equality, and amplifying silenced voices that challenge oppression. Sende is a lawyer and researcher focused on international trade law and food security, working to advance equitable trade systems and protect the rights of small-scale farmers across the Global South.
  • Special forces deployed to battle terrorists in Benue

    Special forces deployed to battle terrorists in Benue

    Special security forces yesterday landed in Benue State to battle terrorists and halt the spate of killings and other forms of violence across the local governments.

    The combined security team is made up of intelligence agencies, the police and the military.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mandated them to take control of the security operations.

    Their deployment followed a fresh directive by the President to the security chiefs to implement without delay his earlier instructions that lasting peace should be restored to the troubled Northcentral state.

    President Tinubu also implored Benue political leaders to close ranks and cooperate with security agencies in their bid to put an end to the tension.

    “The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough,” the President said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

    He urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to rise to the occasion by initiating a robust reconciliation with aggrieved groups in the state.

    “This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue.

    READ ALSO; June 12: Remembrance and omissions

    “Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony and differences are identified and addressed with fairness, openness and justice,” President Tinubu added.

    Aggrieved youths protested the persistent killings and other forms of violence in the state, blocking highways in Makurdi, the state capital.

    The protesters, who converged on the Wurukum Roundabout in the town, urged the Federal Government to save the state from the bandits, arsonists and other unknown gunmen.

    They also urged security agencies to redouble their efforts to ensure that all displaced people return to their ancestral homes and continue with their normal lives.

    Their spokesman, Brahms Ikuan, said the state had been under siege for a long time, adding that the government’s response has been slow.

    Miffed by the prolonged agony, distress and fear, Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims for justice and peace to prevail over tension.

    No fewer than 200 people, including five security personnel, internally displaced persons (IDPs), children and women, were killed over the weekend in a bloody attack by suspected terrorists in Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government.

    The invaders stormed Yelewata in their numbers from two fronts and, after overpowering the youths and the Police who stood up against them, opened fire on defenceless IDPs who were taking refuge in market stalls and other community members.

    Also, many farmers were killed, with some reportedly burned alive in makeshift shelters.

    Reports said there is no synergy between the Benue authorities and federal security agencies on modalities for halting the killings and violence.

    The attack came less than 48 hours after the killing of 25 people in Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa communities in Makurdi local government.

    Concerned Nigerians, who are worried by the spate of bloody attacks, have called for a state of emergency to be declared on the security situation by the Federal Government, but without suspending the governor.

    The Northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemned the bloodletting and called for a clampdown on the killer gangs.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who expressed dismay at the pattern of bloodshed, urged the government to nip the violence in the bud.

    In its renewed determination to bring the ugly situation under control, Police Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun had moved to the state to coordinate police operations before the fresh presidential directive.

    The President described the persistent violence between farming communities, herders, and other local groups as “inhuman and anti-progress,” saying that no meaningful development can occur in an environment beset by bloodshed.

    He also decried the inflammatory remarks by political and community leaders in the affected areas, which had only deepened the divisions.

    “Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings.

    “They should also rein in those who go out to cause provocations and ignite reprisal attacks,” the President said.

    President Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring peace in the region, stressing that justice would be pursued on all fronts and perpetrators held accountable.

    Special forces already in Benue, says Alia

    Alia confirmed that a combined team of tactical and response squads has started arriving in the state to address the security challenges.

    The governor, who announced the deployment in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula, said the special forces and additional security deployments were for vulnerable areas.

    He condemned the attacks and massacre of innocent citizens at Yelwata by suspected criminal herders.

    Alia said: “I acknowledge and share in your pains and grief caused by these attacks on the community by criminal elements suspected to be armed herdsmen.

    “The state government is consistently engaging with federal security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen security interventions and provide lasting solutions to these persistent attacks.

    “We assure citizens that more tactical teams have started arriving in Benue from the Federal Government, and additional security deployments are being arranged for vulnerable areas.

    “Response squad teams are also deployed and will be in Benue from Sunday; strategic community dialogues are ongoing to enhance active intelligence sharing.

    “The state’s joint operations units are also being strengthened, and the government will not relent in its utmost commitment to defending the lives and properties.”

    Alia urged religious, traditional and political leaders to sensitise and guide the youths under their influence against unlawful gatherings or confrontations that may spiral out of control.

    The governor appealed to the public to make use of official communication channels to report any suspicious activities and to stay informed through credible sources.

    Pope prays for peace in Benue

    Speaking before the Sunday Angelus prayer, the Pope, who prayed for Nigeria, said he was particularly thinking of the “rural Christian communities of the Benue State who have been relentless victims of violence”.

    “I pray that security, justice and peace will prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country so affected by various forms of violence.

    “I pray in a special way for the rural communities in Benue state who have been unceasingly the victims of violence,” he said.

    Northern CAN urges total war against killer-gangs

    The CAN in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) urged President Tinubu to take decisive action against the killer gangs.

    The group said in a statement by its Secretary General, Elder Sunday Oibe, that violent activities perpetrated by criminal ‘herdsmen’ and Boko Haram terrorists have made life increasingly unbearable for innocent citizens.

    Protesting youths block highways in Makurdi

    Youths who took to the streets in Makurdi said despite the useful information about the movement of the attackers and reports to authorities, nothing was done to avert the attacks.

    Ikuan accused the authorities of maintaining a conspiratorial silence on the ongoing genocide, adding that Benue may cease to exist if urgent steps are not taken to end the killings.

    “We cried, sent messages and opened letters, but nobody listened to us. Nobody came to our aid. At this moment, we are not sure if there will be any place called Benue tomorrow.

    “Despite the attacks and killings in Yelwata, up till now, no word from the government or any prominent person. They have abandoned us.

    “We want the world to know that Benue is being wiped out on the face of the earth and nobody cares about what is happening,” he said.

    Also, a youth, Gideon Inyom, accused the government of giving the herders unfettered access to the Benue communities by relaxing the state’s anti-open grazing law.

    However, Commissioner of Police, Emenari Ifeanyi, said the IGP had taken over the security of the state.

    Ifeanyi said the IGP has already deployed special forces to the state to end the attacks and killings.

    He added that security agencies were on top of the situation, urging the youths and Benue people to give the new forces a chance.

    “What you saw happening in Yelewata is because we have taken over Apa, Gwer West, and are moving seriously in Agatu.

    “They just want to do something to show that they are in control, while they are not and will never be.

    “We are feeling more pain than you. We are here to protect lives and property.

    “We have security everywhere now; even in Yelwata, there are tactical teams in the bush even before the attack.

    “Give the special forces and tactical teams a room to work. If you prolong your stay here, you are giving the enemies more time to plan.

    “We have intelligence reports of their movement, and we are blocking them, and you will see the result.”

    Ifeanyi further explained that Alia has given them all the logistics support needed to restore peace in Benue.

    Deputy gov, VeryDarkMan address protesters

    The Deputy Governor, Sam Ode and Social Media activist, Very Dark Man, VDM, who addressed the protesters, pleaded with them to withdraw from the streets and clear the barricades on major streets.

    Very Dark Man himself joined security agencies to clear woods, tyres and stones from the roads to make way for a free flow of traffic.

    Police fire tear gas

    Police operatives in Makurdi dispersed protesters using tear gas during a demonstration against renewed attacks in the state.

    The protest, held at the Wurukum roundabout on Sunday, was organised in response to the killings.

    Protesters, dressed in black clothing and carrying fresh leaves, gathered to demand urgent action from authorities to address the recurring violence in the state.

    The demonstration, under the hashtag #StopBenueKillings, attracted a large crowd and drew the attention of security agencies.

    The CP Ifeanyi addressed the protesters before the crowd was dispersed.

    He appealed for calm and assured the demonstrators that security agencies were working to apprehend the attackers.

    The commissioner also advised against prolonged protests, stating that it could interfere with security operations.

    “I was monitoring and at the checking point for more than six hours. Tell your people to calm down, we need to support the youth and everybody in Benue State.

    “It is a phase, and we are passing through it already. We have already cut the head of the snake, and we will get the peace that we deserve.

    “Instead of being in the bush with other security agencies, we are here.

    “If you prolong your actions here, you’re giving opportunity for the enemies to plan.

    “We have intelligence of their movement, and we are blocking them.”

    Shortly after his address, videos of protesters being teargassed by the police surfaced on social media.

    “There are security trucks stationed at the Wurukum roundabout in Makurdi, where the #StopBenueKillings protesters gathered, and a helicopter is hovering over them,” a protester said in one of the videos.

    “If this energy were directed toward securing lives in the state, residents wouldn’t be protesting. Protesters have, as usual, been tear-gassed and dispersed.”

    As canisters hissed through the air, protesters fled in different directions, coughing and shielding their faces.

    A police helicopter hovered overhead with several patrol vans stationed at strategic locations in the state capital.

    Suswan decries killings

    Former Governor Gabriel Suswam expressed dismay at the devastating attacks, urging the Federal and state governments to devise a lasting solution to the protracted crisis.

    He said in a statement by his media aide, Bede Batholomew, that a collective action, rather than futile accusations or blame-shifting, is required to restore normalcy.

    Victims need support, says Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku, in a statement posted on his X account, said the killings underscored the escalating insecurity crisis facing Nigeria.

    He said: “I urge the Federal Government and Benue State authorities to launch a prompt, transparent investigation into the attack. The identities of the perpetrators must be swiftly uncovered and justice served.”

    He also called for an engagement with affected communities through dialogue with the traditional leadership and civil society to restore confidence and foster resilience.

    Atiku said compensation and support, including medical aid, trauma counselling, and livelihood restoration,  should be accelerated for survivors and bereaved families.

    He added: “This assault on innocent Nigerians is not just a local tragedy; it is a national emergency that demands immediate attention and decisive action.

    “I call on all Nigerians, regardless of tribe or religion, to unite in condemning this atrocity.

    “We must hold our leaders accountable and insist on sustainable solutions to the violent tragedies claiming lives across the country.

    “May God comfort the grieving families, heal our nation, and help us reclaim peace and security for all.”

  • Benue killings: Army chief moves in, deploys more troops, logistics

    Benue killings: Army chief moves in, deploys more troops, logistics

    The Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on Tuesday, moved to Benue, in a strategic move to address the incessant killing of innocent villagers by suspected herders and militia groups in the state.

    A source at the Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that the COAS was concerned about the killings of innocent citizens and displacement of families from their homes in the state.

    NAN learnt that Oluyede, accompanied by Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and other top officers at the Army Headquarters, are moving to the state for assessment of the security situation.

    The source disclosed that the COAS had also ordered more deployment of troops and logistics to the state to hunt down the armed groups terrorising the people of Benue.

    “While in Benue State, the COAS, is expected to hold strategic meetings with all operational and unit commanders to brainstorm on the way forward as well as review the ongoing operations with a view to end the massacre.

    “He is also expected to visit troops locations and operational bases in the state to interact with troops and boost their morale and fighting spirit.

    “The COAS is also expected to visit villages that have been attacked and reassure residents of their safety and the resolve of the Nigerian army to protect lives and property of law abiding citizens.

    “General Oluyede, while in the state, will personally lead troops in the operation in the battle front,” he added.

    Read Also: Troops eliminate terror kingpin Abu Fatima in Borno – Army

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there has been increased csaes of killing in Benue by suspected herdsmen which has become a source of concern to many.

    Some of the recent cases in the state include the attack on Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo on May 24 while on his way from Makurdi to Naka, the headquarters of Gwer-East Local Government Area.

    The attackers left him for dead, but he survived.

    On May 29, Agan Community in Makurdi was attacked in broad daylight, resulting in multiple fatalities.

    On Sunday June 1, Naka, the Gwer West Local Government headquarters, and Edikwu-Ankpali community in Apa Local Area were attacked, resulting in several fatalities.

    Also reported was the attack on other communities including Tse-Antswam in Naka town by suspected herdsmen, which left 17 people dead and many others missing or displaced.

    Similarly, Edikwu and Ankpali communities in Apa Local Government Area were attacked, resulting in 16 confirmed deaths and many others missing.

    The visit of the COAS to the state and rejigging of operations is expected to lead to restoration of normalcy to troubled areas in the state.

    (NAN) 

  • Benue killings: We need FG’s support, says Gov Alia

    Benue killings: We need FG’s support, says Gov Alia

    Governor Hyacinth Alia has stated that the solution to the persistent killings in Benue State lies in increased support from the federal government, rather than the declaration of a state of emergency.

    Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, Governor Alia insisted that while the situation in Benue is severe, it is not beyond the control of the state government.

    “What we need is emergency help for now. We need absolute support,” he stated. “The federal government is supportive. They sent two armoured tanks that came in. Our situation had changed. We had a better narrative.”

    The governor maintained that his administration can push back armed herders and restore peace in the state.

    He explained that the priority is to return displaced persons to their ancestral lands by driving out “armed invaders who have brought in people who do not even speak the Nigerian languages we speak.”

    Alia rejected calls for a state of emergency, saying such a move was unnecessary and adding that significant progress has already been made.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Gov Alia appoints 2Face Idibia as adviser

    He noted that the number of local government areas under siege has dropped from 17 to six under his administration.

    “We couldn’t have trimmed it from 17 local governments in the front lines of the attacks to nine and then now to six, which means we can do this,” he said. “But we need help. And that is a fact.”

    The governor’s remarks come as Benue continues to witness deadly attacks, with hundreds reportedly killed in recent weeks.

  • Plateau, Benue killings: State Police back on front burner

    Plateau, Benue killings: State Police back on front burner

    • Issue may return to NEC agenda this week
    • Senators developing legal framework

    The resurgence of violent killings in Plateau and Benue states in the last month has brought back to the front burner the vexed issue of state police.

    The Senate, on resumption from recess next week, will put a framework to the idea, according to Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.

    The issue is also expected to be on the agenda of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting this week.

    NEC, chaired by the Vice President, is made up of governors and a few other federal officials.

    At its December 12, 2024, meeting, it was announced that all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had indicated readiness to embrace state police.

    Against the expectations of Nigerians, however, NEC’s February meeting – its only one so far this year – did not discuss state police – at least not on the communiqué released to the media.

    Also yesterday, Serving Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church (formerly Latter Rain), Pastor Tunde Bakare, advocated the formation of zonal security councils and decentralisation of policing.

    Two security experts also proffered community involvement and police independence as a panacea to the killings.

    Former Senate President David Mark gave a range of suggestions to end the killings.

    Bamidele called on security agencies to apprehend and prosecute those perpetrating killings, kidnappings and destruction of property in parts of the country.

    He said: “The recent killings in Benue and Plateau states outright negated the virtues of peace and love that Jesus Christ taught.

    “The recurrent utterances by some political and sectional figures also belied the values of courage, perseverance and tolerance He evidently lived for.

    “No country develops as a result of one section rising up against another and vice versa.

    “While the authority of the National Assembly is in the process of developing legal frameworks for the establishment of state police as one of the measures to address insecurity in the country, we urge security agencies to work together as a team to track and apprehend all the masterminds and sponsors of terror attacks nationwide.

    “We appeal to some political actors who always latch onto the country’s challenges to push divisive narratives to learn from the example of Jesus Christ.

    “Such actors are no longer playing opposition politics, but simply taking advantage of the country’s internal conditions in the pursuit of their own parochial political outcomes.

    “Regardless of their ethnicity, politics and religion, all actors should shun all forms of divisive utterance and join forces against the common foes of Nigeria and not subvert our effort to build a strong and virile federation.”

    Zonal security

    Bakare, who expressed concern over the spate of killings, abductions and other crimes, called for the decentralisation of the policing system and the formation of zonal security councils.

    In his state of the nation address in Lagos yesterday, the cleric noted that the surge in security concerns, including the recent killing of hundreds of residents in Plateau and Benue states, required a new approach to tame.

    He said: “We must then reinstate national security federalism by activating constitutional procedures for multilevel policing, including local, state, and zonal policing systems.

    “Against this backdrop, we must redesign our security architecture by facilitating the formation of zonal security councils, chaired by a governor from the respective zone on a rotating basis.

    “Such councils, which will be formed by state and local policing systems within respective zones, must be managed by nonpartisan security experts, while the Chairperson at each point in time will represent the zone at the National Security Council.

    “These steps would be further boosted by adequately retooling our security infrastructure to meet the complex demands and by remodelling our security infrastructure to end interagency rivalry.

    “We must also recreate our national security culture by mandating the kind of organisational culture change within the entire gamut of our law enforcement agencies that can win back the trust of the people.”

    Stringent measures

    Senator Mark called on the Federal Government to be more proactive in its efforts to tackle the menace of violent crimes, kidnapping and armed herdsmen.

    He suggested that such violent and murderous groups should be declared terrorists and treated as such.

    Mark bemoaned the unabating violent crimes, especially in the Northcentral states of Plateau and Benue.

    A statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja quoted Mark as saying: “We must not shy away from the truth. If they are not terrorists, why are they killing people? Why are they destroying communities? Why are they chasing people away from their ancestral homes?”

    Decrying the unending activities of armed herders suspected to be behind killings and kidnappings, Mark said: “Their activities are unacceptable and should not only be condemned but be prohibited in their entirety as nobody has the right to take anybody’s life.”

    On the attacks on several communities in Benue and Plateau states, the senator called on the Federal Government to proscribe open grazing in all parts of the country.

    Read Also:  Plateau killings fueled by long-standing grievances, mistrust – GOC 3 Division

    The former Senate President, whose home town in Benue State was under attack, called for a more inclusive approach to tackle insecurity in all ramifications.

    Mark also called for the establishment of a well-equipped Border Security Forces (BSF) to halt the influx of criminals into Nigeria, pointing out that most of the suspected killer-herders “took advantage of the porosity of our borders by streaming into the country”.

  • Wade into killings, unrest in Benue, group appeals to Tinubu

    Wade into killings, unrest in Benue, group appeals to Tinubu

    The Coalition for Good Governance and Transparency in Nigeria (CGGTN) has raised the alarm over what it described as politically motivated killings in Benue State, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene urgently.

    Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the coalition’s leader, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, decried the rising wave of violence in the state, particularly following the recent judgment of the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal in favour of elected councillors from the seven LGAs in Benue North West Senatorial District.

    The group, in partnership with the Advocates of Social Justice (ASJ), alleged that certain National Assembly members—described as “enemies of Benue State”—are behind the unrest.

    They called on President Tinubu to act swiftly to neutralize what they termed “powers in Abuja backing civil unrest” in the state, lamenting that individuals elected to serve the people are instead allegedly fueling chaos for political gain.

    “What will the people gain if they continue to loose their loved ones because you want a state of emergency declared in your own State. These rascals must be stopped. Do they think that Nigerians would fold their arms and watch these few elements pull down the Country?” they queried.

    Read Also: Real reasons Tope Alabi refused to perform at Liz Anjorin’s surprise birthday party

    The group then called on the security agencies to immediately go after the serial killers in Benue state. 

    Expressing concern at the rising wave of killings in the state, the group alleged that street and campus cults are being used to perpetuate evil and in return blamed the crisis on the State Governo, accusing him of failing to provide security even when he does not have control over security apparatus in the state. 

    The group also accused some disgruntled persons in the State of being the mastermind of a plan to cause chaos and destabilised the state.

    They claimed to have unearthed plans by these elements to mobilise more than 20,000 people for a protest march in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja in a bid to cause another chaos in the country. 

    According to Ude-Umanta, “We urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to watch his back as the people in question are around the government and they have access to funds and could do anything just to prove a point.

    “Mr President sir, your enemies are within you but you shall overcome all animosity. They are people who have access to security and huge stolen funds that could be used against anyone or authority. Mr. President must know that his government is being attacked by the same people he appointed into sensitive positions, in the guise of getting at the Executive Governor of Benue State, the working governor.

    “We know and they know, that the only thing they could do is to cause civil unrest and cause more death and hardship on Benue communities and Nigeria at large just to give the government a bad image. The Inspector General of Police must not take this information for granted as the days are near. The Police must be seen working just like the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria is working.”