President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigeria’s service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to track down and arrest those responsible for the recent massacre in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which claimed over 59 lives and left many others injured.
Tinubu issued the directive on Wednesday during a condolence visit to the North-Central state, following renewed violence that has sparked national outrage and mass displacement.
“Police, I hope your men are alert. How come no arrest has been made? I expect to see those criminals arrested,” the President said during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi.
Addressing security leaders directly, he added: “Christopher [Chief of Defence Staff], you can’t be tired of staying in the bush. Oloyede, the Air Marshal—we thank you all, but we must keep our ears to the ground. Let’s get those criminals. DG NIA, DG DSS, retool your information networks so this doesn’t happen again.”
The president’s comments follow last week’s attack—allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen—which drew condemnation from opposition leaders including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, and international figures such as Pope Francis, who described the incident as “a terrible massacre.”
‘We must not fight each other’
President Tinubu reiterated his call for dialogue and reconciliation in Benue, urging local leaders to bridge ethnic and communal divides.
“As Nigerians, we are members of the same house, just sleeping in different rooms,” Tinubu said. “Whether you are Tiv, Idoma, or Yoruba, let’s turn this country into one of prosperity and unity. The value of human life is greater than that of a cow.”
He urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to spearhead a reconciliation process involving affected communities and stakeholders.
“We are here to govern, not bury our people,” he said. “We are here to raise families, not lose them. Let us create synergy for peace, development, and prosperity.”
Committee on lasting peace
The President proposed the creation of a high-level committee—including former governors, traditional rulers, and key stakeholders—to develop actionable strategies for lasting peace in the state.
“I want us to form this leadership committee now and meet in Abuja to work out a lasting solution. I’m ready to invest in peace,” Tinubu stated.
He also appealed to the public to donate blood for victims recovering in hospitals, after personally visiting some of the injured.
Alia calls for state police, intervention fund
Governor Alia called for the establishment of state police and a federal intervention fund to support displaced communities. He described the security situation as dire and insisted community policing is essential to long-term stability.
‘Not clashes, but genocide’ — Tor Tiv
The Tor Tiv V and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty James Ayatse, condemned attempts to downplay the severity of the crisis.
“This is not a herders-farmers clash, not communal fighting or reprisals,” he said. “It is a calculated, well-planned genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder-terrorists and bandits. Misdiagnosing the problem leads to wrong solutions.”
