MAKURDI — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to take decisive action following the deadly assault in Benue State, where over 200 people were reportedly killed by suspected armed herdsmen in Yelwata. During a visit to Makurdi, the President described the attack as a national tragedy and ordered immediate arrests of the perpetrators.
He said if the violence was tied to land disputes, the government would tackle it directly. The President also announced the formation of a peace committee made up of former state leaders and traditional rulers to work towards long-term stability in the region.
“The Nigerian people, especially the people of Benue, deserve peace,” Tinubu said during a town hall meeting with stakeholders. “We are not elected to preside over funerals or establish more orphanages. We must come together, share resources, and build a united, peaceful nation.”
He emphasized that national unity and mutual respect were crucial to solving the persistent conflicts and stated that Nigeria had enough land for all citizens to live and prosper without resorting to violence.
Peace Committee Formation
President Tinubu directed that a committee of respected elders, including former governors and traditional leaders such as the Tor Tiv and the Och’Idoma, be established to lead peace-building efforts. He stressed that the committee must also include non-indigenes to ensure inclusive dialogue and lasting solutions.
“We will invest in peace,” Tinubu stated. “This committee will meet in Abuja to propose practical, permanent resolutions to the crisis. The time has come to stop the bloodshed and rebuild our communities.”
Security Agencies Put on Alert
The President publicly demanded accountability from security agencies over the lack of arrests related to the Yelwata killings. “Why have the killers not been apprehended?” he asked, directing the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff to ensure swift action is taken. He also instructed the DSS and NIA to increase intelligence gathering to track and apprehend those behind the attacks.
He acknowledged the efforts of security forces in the region but insisted that more must be done to protect citizens and bring criminals to justice.
Due to adverse weather and poor road conditions, the President was unable to personally visit Yelwata but confirmed he had reviewed visual documentation of the destruction. He promised federal support for rebuilding affected communities.
Governor, Monarchs Back Federal Intervention
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, praised the President for showing empathy and being the first sitting Nigerian leader to visit the state in direct response to such an attack. He said the visit had reignited hope among the grieving communities and expressed optimism that the federal government would help end the violence.
Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, called for a firm federal response, insisting the violence in Benue was not merely a conflict between herders and farmers but a systematic attempt to displace communities and seize their land. He urged Tinubu not to view the crisis as a local dispute, but rather as a serious security threat to national peace and unity.
“What we face is not a clash, not a reprisal. It is a deliberate, organized invasion,” the traditional ruler said. He warned that mislabeling the crisis had contributed to insufficient intervention and alleged that some political figures had used the conflict for personal gain.
He also referenced President Tinubu’s previous success in resolving a similar issue in Kwara State, urging him to do the same in Benue so that displaced farmers can return to their homes and resume food production.
Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Nasarawa
Meanwhile, the crisis has led to a rising number of displaced persons in neighboring Nasarawa State. According to the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), more than 3,000 displaced individuals—mainly women and children—are currently sheltering in four camps across the state.
The camps, located in Agyaragu, Kadarko, Idadu, and Kpata, are severely overstretched. At St. John’s Primary School in Agyaragu alone, over 1,800 people are seeking refuge. Many of them fled after the Yelwata massacre and now face food shortages, poor sanitary conditions, and lack of medical care.
Benjamin Akwash, Director-General of NASEMA, said efforts were underway to assess the IDPs’ needs and distribute relief materials. “We had just visited one of the camps the day before the attack, providing food to displaced Tiv farmers,” he explained. “Now the number has increased significantly.”
Several displaced women expressed distress over their current living conditions, citing hunger, mosquito infestations, and a lack of sleeping materials. “We lost everything and now sleep on the floor with our children. We need urgent government support,” said Mary Iyorhe, a mother sheltering in one of the camps.
The situation remains dire, and humanitarian assistance is urgently required to prevent further suffering among the displaced populations.
