President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of killer herders responsible for the gruesome massacre of over 100 people in Yelewata community, Benue State.
The President issued the directive during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Makurdi, where he met with Governor Hyacinth Alia, traditional rulers, former governors, and other political leaders from the state. Also present at the meeting were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and Governors from Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa States.
Tinubu questioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the absence of arrests in connection with the attack.
“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,” the President queried.
He also directed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the heads of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify intelligence gathering and community collaboration to track down the perpetrators.
The President advised Governor Alia to immediately constitute a peace committee comprising former governors, traditional leaders, elders, federal officials, and non-indigenes to chart a path to lasting peace in the state.
“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,” Tinubu assured.
He urged the Governor to allocate land for ranching and instructed the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to follow up on the process.
Earlier, President Tinubu visited the victims of the attack receiving treatment at the Benue State Teaching Hospital, where he called for blood donations and pledged federal support for recovery efforts.
Expressing disappointment over the tragedy, Tinubu said:“I wanted to come here to commission projects, to reassure you of hope and prosperity, not to see gloomy faces. But peace is vital to development. The value of human life is greater than that of a cow. We were elected to govern, not to bury people.”
He charged Governor Alia with aligning with the Federal Government to restore peace.
“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,” he said.
In his remarks, Governor Alia appealed for the establishment of a Special Intervention Fund to assist communities repeatedly affected by violent attacks. He also reaffirmed his support for state policing as a long-term solution to insecurity in Benue.
“While we continue to mourn our losses and rebuild, we humbly urge the Federal Government to consider establishing a special intervention fund for affected communities in Benue State,” he said.
Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse, commended President Tinubu for visiting victims at the hospital a first by any sitting President. He, however, described the conflict not as herder-farmer clashes but as a well-organised land-grabbing and genocidal campaign.
“Your Excellency, it is not herder-farmer clashes. It is not communal clashes. 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,” the monarch stated.
He cautioned against politicising the crisis and appealed to the President to bring lasting peace to Benue.
“All we ask of you, sir, is to stop our weeping. Give us peace in Benue State, so our people, primarily farmers, can return to their farms and continue to produce food for Nigeria,” he added.
The meeting ended with renewed commitments from stakeholders to collaborate in restoring peace and stability in Benue State.
