Makurdi, Nigeria – June 18, 2025 | The Bureau News
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed security chiefs to immediately identify and arrest those behind the brutal killings in Yelewata Community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The President, speaking during a stakeholders’ town hall in Makurdi, also proposed the formation of a peace resolution committee made up of elders and traditional rulers to address the persistent farmer-herder conflicts in the state.
Tinubu praised the military and security agencies for their ongoing efforts in restoring peace but stressed the need to prioritise human lives over livestock. He called on residents to convert the recent tragedy into a turning point for economic progress.
“I will partner with the Benue government to transform this tragedy into economic opportunity. Let’s build peace so we can achieve food sovereignty,” the President said.
He also promised strong federal support for infrastructure development and peacebuilding in Benue, urging all parties to work together toward lasting solutions.
Governor Seeks Special Fund, State Police
Governor Hyacinth Alia called for a Special Intervention Fund for victims of attacks and reiterated the demand for the creation of a State Police force to address insecurity more effectively.
“We must localise our security efforts. Only a State Police can help curb these persistent attacks,” Alia said.
Tiv Monarch Demands Justice, Inclusion
The Tor Tiv and Chairman of the Benue State Council of Chiefs, Professor James Ayatse, applauded President Tinubu’s appointments of Benue indigenes into key federal positions and urged the federal government to treat the Tiv people with fairness.
He called attention to the discrimination faced by Tiv communities in Nasarawa State and appealed to the President to intervene in their land rights and ensure they are not treated as non-indigenes.
“The Tiv have paid a high price in defending Nigeria’s unity during the Civil War. It’s time for those sacrifices to be recognised,” Professor Ayatse said.
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments from both federal and state leadership to restore peace and stability across Benue State.