The President of Mzough U Tiv UK (MUTUK), Victor Aleva, has raised concerns over the continued neglect of the Yelwata community in Benue State, months after a deadly herdsmen attack in June claimed over 200 lives.
Aleva, speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, stated that no visible efforts have been made to rebuild the devastated community, despite President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state following the attack.
“I was in Yelewata last Saturday and saw the situation firsthand. It is quite unfortunate. This is not about politics or playing to the gallery, nothing has changed,” he said.
President Tinubu had visited Benue in June after renewed killings left scores dead, several injured, and thousands displaced. During the visit, the President directed the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest those responsible for the massacre.
A few days later, IGP Kayode Egbetokun announced the arrest of 26 individuals allegedly connected to the killings. However, Aleva dismissed the announcement, describing it as political theatre.
“You know that’s a lie. The President scolded the IGP, and less than 48 hours later, they paraded some suspects. Where are they now? This attack happened on June 13 and 14, it’s been over two months. Where are the culprits?” he asked.
Aleva also reiterated his earlier skepticism about the outcome of Tinubu’s visit, saying it had produced no tangible results.
“I said in a previous interview that nothing meaningful would come out of the President’s visit, and that has proven true. I have video evidence, interviews with locals, and I was there in person with my team. Nothing is happening in Yelewata,” he said.
He further argued that the violence in Yelwata should not be described as a herder-farmer conflict, but rather as a targeted campaign to wipe out the local population.
“This was not a clash. It was a calculated attempt to exterminate a people. What the community expected was an order to rebuild — not political rhetoric,” Aleva added.
