The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, on Tuesday temporarily relocated to Benue State to oversee military operations aimed at restoring security following incessant attacks that have left at least 270 people dead in Benue State in just two months,

Lt. Gen. Oluyede arrived Benue on Tuesday morning with a delegation of Principal Staff Officers and senior personnel from Army Headquarters, as part of an urgent intervention amid escalating violence across 10 local government areas.

Upon arrival, the Army Chief held a closed-door meeting with Governor Hyacinth Alia at the Government House in Makurdi, after which he was scheduled to visit communities worst hit by the attacks, many of which were reportedly carried out by armed attackers.

Governor Alia, who later briefed traditional and security councils on the outcome of the meeting, described the Army Chief’s visit as a “message of hope” for Benue people. 

He said Lt. Gen. Oluyede had also conveyed condolences from the federal government and assured intensified efforts to halt the bloodshed.

Traditional rulers, including the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse; the Och’Idoma, Dr. John Eliagwu (represented by Chief George Edeh); other chiefs; and heads of security agencies attended the briefing.

270 killed in 61 days across 10 LGAs

A review of incidents from April 1 to June 1, 2025, shows that at least 270 lives were lost in sustained armed attacks across 10 LGAs. 

Our correspondent reports that the latest incident, on June 1, claimed 43 lives in Gwer West and Apa LGAs alone, making it one of the deadliest days in recent memory.

The Sankera axis comprising Katsina-Ala, Logo, and Ukum LGAs recorded the highest fatalities with 83 deaths reported in a five-day spree between April 17 and April 21.

In Otukpo LGA, at least 16 people were killed in separate attacks from April 4 to May 7.

Local sources however believed the actual death toll may be higher, as attacks in remote villages often go unreported.

Security expert warns relocation may not be enough

Security analyst and retired DSS director, Orgem Angulum, questioned the effectiveness of relocating high-ranking officers during crises, citing similar strategies that failed in other conflict-prone states.

“Relocation of security heads hasn’t yielded desired results in places like Borno or Plateau,” Angulum sad.

He added that, “What’s urgently needed now is a national security summit. We must rethink our strategy, especially on how we secure reclaimed areas after repelling attackers.”

He emphasised the need for holding territory after raids, rather than leaving vulnerable communities exposed to repeated attacks.

“We have tried the issue of relocating a security head in Borno, in Plateau and elsewhere and it hadn’t worked. So, if I’m to advise the government, by now, the government should have been thinking of national security summit. And then, the government would have changed tactics like why have we failed in Borno? Why have we failed in Plateau? Why have we failed in part of Northwest? The government would have by now changed tactics.

“At least for the security operatives, if you go where these things are happening, you shouldn’t just be repelling these people (bandits). If you repel these people, you should equally take charge of these places to ensure that those places become secure before the security leave the area. But in a situation where you hear that there is attack in a particular place, then police and army, everybody comes and the moment they repel those people, they leave the villagers to their fate, it’s wrong.

“So, I think the government should better be thinking now how to convene a national security summit where all relevant security stakeholders from across the states would come and brainstorm and find a solution to the spate of insecurity if not we are heading towards anarchy,” Angulum warned.

Senators Kalu, Moro decry insecurity

Prominent lawmakers like Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) and the Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro, have weighed in on the crisis, urging government to quickly do the needful.

Kalu called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider sacking underperforming ministers and service chiefs to reinvigorate national security efforts.

Senator Moro (PDP, Benue South) on the other hand, described the killings as a “Slide toward anarchy” and urged both federal and state governments to take swift and decisive action.

“Our people must be protected. The rights to life and freedom of movement must not only be acknowledged but guaranteed,” Moro said while condoling families of victims.

He, however, welcomed the Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede, to Benue, saying the COAS relocation to the state over sustained attacks on communities by armed invaders would yield positive results.

The senator saluted the army boss’s decision, describing it as ‘timely’ and that the presence of the army chief in the state will stem the tides of the attacks and restore relative peace. 

Moro in a statement by his media adviser, Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John, assured of his full support and the cooperation of his constituents to nip the tetra-headed monster in the bud.

Women protest shelved amid fear of infiltration

Tensions, however, remain high in Apa LGA, where 25 people were reportedly killed on Sunday in the Ankpali-Edikwu community while another 18 were killed in Naka, headquarters of Gwer West LGA, on the same day.

Our correspondent reports that in response, women under the banner Voice of the Hopeless Women planned a peaceful protest but later cancelled it over fears of being hijacked by hoodlums.

Chairman of Apa LGA, Adams Ocheiga, confirmed the development, saying calm had returned “for now,” though the situation remained volatile. 

He also noted that, as of Tuesday morning, he had yet to see actual police deployment in the area.

“We can’t predict the next second,” he warned. 

Ocheiga added that though the women gathered for the protest match, however they could not proceed with it as they were advised that hoodlums could take advantage of the situation to perpetuate crime.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command, in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed the deployment of tactical teams to both Apa and Gwer West LGAs with the Commissioner of Police, CP Emenari Ifeanyi, reportedly relocating the Area Commander to Apa, while the tactical unit had been directed to take over operations in Naka, the Gwer West LGA headquarters. 

Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said officers had repelled several attacks over the past month but that armed groups continued to exploit gaps in security.

However, Governor Alia has vowed not to relent. In his verified Facebook post, he stated: “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the loss of 23 innocent lives; 12 in Apa and 11 in Gwer West. These killings are unacceptable. I have ordered joint forces to sweep the affected areas and restore peace. We will not fold our arms while our people are slaughtered.”

In the meantime, as the army chief takes charge on the ground, residents remain hopeful but cautious that the latest intervention may mark a turning point in the unending cycle of bloodbath in the state.

For many, however, peace seems increasingly unattainable unless matched by strong resistance through the involvement of locally armed groups.