Tinubu orders arrest of Yelewata killers
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered immediate action by top security agencies to arrest those responsible for the massacre of over 100 people in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The President gave the directive during a high-level stakeholder meeting at the Benue State Government House, Makurdi, on Wednesday.
In a direct charge to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the President demanded swift justice and stronger intelligence operations in the troubled North Central state.
“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 said in a stern address.
Tinubu also tasked the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify surveillance, gather actionable intelligence, and collaborate with local communities to apprehend the perpetrators.
According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the meeting was attended by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; governors of Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa states; traditional rulers; and former governors of Benue State.
Emphasising a proactive and inclusive approach to peacebuilding, President Tinubu urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to constitute a broad-based peace committee.
He advised that the committee should comprise former governors, traditional rulers, community elders, federal government officials, and representatives of non-indigene communities resident 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,” President Tinubu said.
In an effort to prevent future clashes between farmers and herders, the President directed Governor Alia to allocate land for ranching and asked the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to immediately follow up on the directive.
The President had earlier visited the Benue State University Teaching Hospital to sympathise with victims and medical personnel, and called on citizens to donate blood to help the wounded.
While lamenting the needless loss of lives, President Tinubu made a passionate appeal for peace as a foundation for sustainable development in the state.
“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 said.
He tasked Governor Alia with aligning fully with the federal government’s mission to restore peace and prosperity to the state.
“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. We will work with you to achieve that peace. You must also work with us,” he stressed.
Acknowledging political pressures, the President said, “Not everyone will like you in politics. They hate me, too—like hell. But here I am, still your President. I made a promise to protect democracy, freedom, and prosperity, even for my abusers and accusers. That’s leadership.”
In his response, Governor Alia appealed for the creation of a Special Federal Intervention Fund to aid communities ravaged by repeated attacks in Benue.
He said such a fund would be critical in helping victims rebuild their lives and in restoring destroyed infrastructure.
“Your Excellency, while we continue to mourn our losses and rebuild from the ashes of pain, we humbly urge the Federal Government to consider establishing a special intervention fund for communities affected by these incessant attacks in Benue State,” Alia said.
The Governor reaffirmed his support for the establishment of state police as a long-term solution to insecurity and promised unwavering commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous Benue.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers, the Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse, offered praise for President Tinubu’s personal visit to the hospital and for the inclusion of Benue indigenes in his administration, such as Senator Akume and Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev.
However, the monarch did not mince words about the depth of the crisis in the state. He said mischaracterizing the violence as “herder-farmer clashes” or “communal disputes” only masked the true nature of the conflict.
“Your Excellency, it is not herder-farmer clashes. It is not communal clashes. It is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes. 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 Tor Tiv stated.
He warned that political manipulation of the crisis was worsening the situation.
“We hear that some politicians would even prefer that the crisis worsens, so it would serve as a basis for declaring a state of emergency. This is unfortunate. Any politician who prays for more people to die for such a project is working against the wishes of the people of Benue State,” he said.
Appealing directly to the President, the monarch concluded, “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 referenced the President’s intervention in Kwara State’s Kaiama crisis as a sign of his capacity to end similar turmoil in Benue.
