FIC Report (Benue State) – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed security agencies to urgently gather actionable intelligence and flush out armed herdsmen responsible for persistent attacks in Benue State, especially following the massacre of over 100 residents in Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area.
The President gave the directive on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, during a high-level town hall meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi, where he met with stakeholders, traditional rulers, security chiefs, and members of the Benue community to express his deep condolences and chart a path to lasting peace.
President Tinubu charged the military and police to intensify efforts in tracking and arresting the perpetrators of the heinous acts, stating that their arrest would serve as a deterrent to future offenders. He also proposed the immediate constitution of a Committee of Elders—comprising former governors and traditional rulers—to devise sustainable solutions to the security challenges facing the state.
The President further promised to personally convene a national summit in Abuja, where the elders’ committee would present its recommendations for bringing peace and development to Benue. In addition, he proposed another committee that would include both indigenes and residents of Benue to identify broader development concerns and opportunities for progress.
While addressing the people of Benue, President Tinubu urged Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia not to be discouraged by critics but to draw strength from their feedback to deliver meaningful change. He encouraged Benue citizens to rally behind the Governor to enable him succeed in his administration’s goals. The President expressed confidence that Governor Alia would achieve peace and even secure a second term in office.
Speaking at the event, President Tinubu lamented that he had come to Benue not to inaugurate projects, but to mourn with the people over the tragic killings, describing it as a painful circumstance. He pledged federal support for restoring normalcy to affected communities.
Governor of Benue state, Rev Fr.Hyacinth Alia, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to the President for his prompt and compassionate visit. He described the President’s presence as historic, noting that this was the first time a Nigerian President was visiting the state in direct response to security challenges.
“The people of Benue have endured targeted and sustained attacks for over a decade,” Governor Alia said. “Our communities have been displaced, our ancestral homes taken over, and our farmers driven from their lands. Yet, with your visit, hope is rekindled.”
He called on the Federal Government to establish a Special Intervention Fund to rehabilitate displaced persons, rebuild infrastructure, and support the recovery of livelihoods lost to the attacks. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to securing the people and returning them to their communities to live in peace and dignity.
The Tor Tiv, HRM Prof. James Ayatse, also addressed the President during the meeting. He described the situation in Benue not as a farmer-herder conflict but as an orchestrated and prolonged genocidal campaign. He warned against the politicization of the crisis and thanked the President for appointing Benue sons and daughters—including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation—into key national roles.
The traditional ruler expressed optimism that with President Tinubu’s resolve, the killings would soon be a thing of the past.
Signed:
Irene Iveren Onehi
Head of Centre
Federal Information Centre, Makurdi
