The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ending the ongoing killings in Benue State, following his emotional visit to communities affected by the latest round of violence in Guma Local Government Area.

Senator Akume, who returned to his home state ahead of the President’s planned condolence visit, toured the site of the June 13 attack in Yelewata, where dozens were killed and many others injured. He met survivors, visited the injured at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), and addressed displaced families at the Market IDP camp.

Speaking on X, Akume described the scene as harrowing. “I returned home, ahead of @officialABAT’s condolence visit to Benue, weighed down by the grief of the Yelewata killings. I was at the sites of the attack, met survivors who spoke through tears, & visited those fighting for their lives… The pain is raw. The sorrow is deep,” he posted.

Akume assured the grieving communities that President Tinubu shares in their sorrow and is making “concerted efforts” to ensure a lasting solution to the crisis that has plagued parts of Benue for years. “This crisis has gone on too long. No one deserves to live in fear or uncertainty in their own homeland,” he said.

The SGF also conveyed the federal government’s commitment to deploying more security personnel to the affected areas and promised that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would send relief materials to ease the suffering of displaced families.

Akume, visibly moved by the suffering he witnessed, gave a personal assurance: “I brought Mr President’s heartfelt condolences… but I also bring my personal vow too. I will not abandon my own. We will not rest till our homesteads are secure and peace returns to our lands.”

Local leaders, including the Senator representing Benue North-West, Titus Zam, and House of Representatives member Dickson Tarkighir, accompanied Akume during the visit and also called for urgent and sustained federal intervention.

Traditional authorities from the Nyiev District, where the attack occurred, said over 100 lives had been lost in recent weeks and appealed for the establishment of a Mobile Police Unit in the area to prevent further bloodshed.