President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken decisive action in the wake of a fresh wave of bloodshed in Benue State, deploying high-level intelligence and military teams to the region and tasking Governor Hyacinth Alia with leading urgent peace and reconciliation efforts.
This comes after a nightmarish attack on the Yelewata community on June 14, where over 100 innocent residents were reportedly massacred by heavily armed assailants. The assault, described as one of the deadliest in recent memory, has triggered national outrage and drawn condemnation from both local and international human rights organizations.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President condemned the massacre as “inhuman and anti-progress,” emphasizing that the bloodshed must stop immediately.
> “The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is deeply depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is enough,” Tinubu declared.
Reinforcing his earlier directive to restore calm in the region, President Tinubu has now ordered top-level security and intelligence chiefs—including the police, DSS, and the military—to take full charge of operations in Benue State, ensuring immediate stabilization and the prosecution of all perpetrators, regardless of affiliation.
> “I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them,” Tinubu said.
As part of the renewed intervention, crack intelligence teams have already arrived in Benue to coordinate with local forces and direct counter-terrorism operations.
Governor Alia Tasked with Peace Talks
In a direct charge to Governor Hyacinth Alia, the President called for immediate stakeholder dialogue and reconciliation efforts between farmers, herders, and aggrieved communities.
> “This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman. He must immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation. Our people must live in peace, and that is possible when leaders across divides work together in fairness, openness, and justice.”
President Tinubu also warned community and political leaders to refrain from making inflammatory statements that could worsen the volatile situation.
> “Political and community leaders in Benue must act responsibly and avoid rhetoric that could further inflame tensions and escalate killings,” he warned.
Global human rights group, Amnesty International, lambasted the federal government over its failure to protect lives in the region, declaring that the latest bloodbath proves security measures in Benue are “ineffective and failing.”
> “The horrifying killing of over 100 people in Yelewata by gunmen shows the security measures the government claims to be implementing are not working. The authorities must act swiftly to end the bloodshed and bring perpetrators to justice,” Amnesty said in a strongly worded statement.
The group also highlighted the growing humanitarian crisis in the state, with thousands displaced, communities destroyed, and survivors left traumatized.
Benue State, often dubbed Nigeria’s food basket, has become a theatre of war. Governor Alia, speaking to Channels Television, described the situation in grim terms:
> “We are under siege. This is not just random communal clashes; it is directed, planned, and executed. What we are facing here are organized acts of terrorism.”
According to him, intelligence gathered from recent attacks is proving to be 60–65% accurate, further underscoring the need for federal intervention.
In addition to the Yelewata massacre, recent attacks in the state have claimed several other lives. On June 10, three young men were ambushed and killed in Edikwu-G’Icho, Apa Local Government Area, while another victim, Sunday Dutse, was murdered along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu road in Agatu LGA.
Three security operatives were also reported killed in the Yelewata ambush, with 16 others sustaining injuries—highlighting the high stakes and grave dangers facing those attempting to restore order.
President Tinubu’s latest directive marks a turning point in the federal government’s posture toward the Benue crisis. By combining military action with grassroots dialogue, the administration hopes to bring an end to years of violence that have devastated the state.
Whether this renewed push will succeed in halting the carnage remains to be seen, but the message from Aso Rock is loud and clear: “Peace must return to Benue—by any means necessary.”
PIONEER NEWS 