President Bola Tinubu has mandated the country’s service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to hunt down and apprehend those behind the dastardly killings in Benue State, which have left hundreds of people dead, many others severely injured, and a great deal of property destroyed.
Tinubu issued the order on Wednesday during his visit to Benue State following the renewed attacks in the North-Central region.
“Police, I hope your men are on alert to listen to information. How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals,” Tinubu said at the Benue Government House in Makurdi, the capital, during a stakeholders’ meeting.
“Christopher (the Chief of Defence Staff), you have given much. I watch your comments; you can’t be tired of staying in the bush. Oloyede and the Air Marshal, we thank all of you, but we need to keep our ears to the ground; let’s get those criminals; let’s get them out. DG NIA, DG SSS, retool your information channels and let’s have tangible intelligence so this will not occur again.”
Last weekend, gunmen suspected to be herders attacked the Yelwata community of Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of the food-producing state, leaving scores dead and thousands of others displaced.
Those killings sparked national outrage and eventually led to protests in some parts of the state. Opposition politicians, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party and a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, were vocal in their condemnation of the deadly attacks, urging Tinubu and security agencies to address the killings.
Pope Leo XIV also joined the call for an end to the attacks, which he described as “a terrible massacre”.
During his visit to the troubled state on Wednesday, Tinubu re-echoed the need for tolerance and dialogue among stakeholders in the North-Central state.
“As Nigerians, we are members of the same house, but sleeping in different rooms. Whether you are a Tiv, Idoma, or Yoruba, let’s turn this country into a nation of prosperity, unity, and fight our enemies together — not fight each other,” the president told the gathering that included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje; traditional leaders, governors and other dignitaries.
“We can turn this tragedy into economic prosperity. We can do it, and we will do it with you. Let’s have understanding among ourselves, increased tolerance. The value of human lives is greater than that of a cow. Political enemies will come only when you open the doors,” Tinubu told Governor Alia.
“Let’s create that synergy for peace, development, and prosperity. We are here to govern, not to bury them. We are here to raise families, not to lose some — and to provide healthcare, water for them to drink, and food for them to eat,” he said, amid applause from the crowd at the Government House in the Benue State capital.
One Life Worth More Than 100 Cows – President
President Tinubu lamented the situation where no arrests have been made since the killing of farmers in Benue State and ordered the security agencies to go after the terrorists.
He instructed the security agencies to arrest and bring them to book to serve as a deterrent to others, saying the value of one life is more than 100 cattle.
This is even as the president vowed to turn the Benue tragedy into economic prosperity, while giving assurances that with credible intelligence, the ugly situation would not occur again.
The President also directed the governor to create a peace-resolving committee comprising elders, past governors, and the paramount traditional rulers of the Tiv and Idoma nations, who would meet with him to fashion ways to end the carnage.
President Tinubu also asked Governor Hyacinth Alia to donate land for the establishment of ranches in Benue State so that those in the animal husbandry business can ranch their cattle: “so that in the end, we will share the proceeds.”
“I want to tell you, Governor, that as a Reverend Father, you need to work hard and pray for everyone in the state. You are a father to all, and the peace of the state is in your hands, so prioritise the people of the state for development to thrive. This will also help you for your second term bid. When leaders fasten their belts and work together, development will be achieved.”
While commiserating with the governor and the people of the state over the loss of lives and property, President Tinubu called for voluntary blood donations for hospitalised survivors.
We Need State Police – Gov Alia
Governor Alia, who commended President Tinubu for the prompt response, said his coming indicated love and concern for the people of Benue State, describing the decision to cancel other engagements to visit the state as a demonstration of true leadership.
Governor Alia, who called for the establishment of state police, said, “Let me also reiterate my firm support for the establishment of state police as a sustainable solution to the persistent insecurity in our state and perhaps elsewhere. 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 commended the efforts of all security agencies and formations in Benue State even as he asked for more drastic security measures to contain the violent attacks.
“The attacks on the peace-loving and good people of Benue State have persisted for well over a decade. This, we have cause to feel, is a calculated attempt targeted at annihilating us and taking over our ancestral homes,” Alia said.
It’s a Calculated Genocidal, Land-Grabbing Campaign – Tor Tiv
For the Tor Tiv and chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, James Ayatse, the killings in the state are calculated and genocidal.
Speaking in Makurdi on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who was in the state to sympathise with victims of the recent Yelwata massacre, the traditional leader decried what he described as “political games” being played at the expense of human lives.
“We have grave concern about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue,” the traditional ruler said.
“Your Excellency, it is not herders-farmers’ clashes; it is not communal clashes; it is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes. This misinformation has led to suggestions such as ‘remain tolerant’, ‘negotiate for peace’, or ‘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 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 often admit.
We appeal to you as a determined and courageous leader to do all you can to end the genocide on our people so that they can return to their ancestral homes to commence their farming activities,” the Tiv monarch told the president.
Benue Politicians Fuelling Crisis to Instigate Emergency Rule – Tor Tiv
The Tor Tiv also accused some politicians of deliberately politicising the state’s security crisis and allegedly wishing for the situation to deteriorate.
“An apprehension, Your Excellency, that we have is the politicisation of the crisis. Politicians in the state are busy politicising the situation, passing the blame instead of joining hands to address it. We hear that some politicians would even prefer that the crisis worsens so that it will be a basis for a declaration of a state of emergency in Benue State. Your Excellency, this is unfortunate. Any politician who prays for more people to die for such a project is against the wishes of the people of Benue State,” Ayatse added.
While commending the president for personally coming to see things for himself, the Tor Tiv also applauded him for appointing Benue sons and daughters into key positions in his cabinet and for the cordial relationship with the governor, which is fast changing the Benue narrative.
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