By Cross Udo, with agency report
In response to yet another deadly spate of violence in Benue State, President Bola Tinubu has issued a firm directive to security chiefs to immediately implement his earlier orders aimed at restoring lasting peace and security in the troubled region.
Reacting to reports of renewed reprisal attacks that claimed several lives, President Tinubu condemned the killings as “inhuman and anti-progress,” declaring that the bloodshed must not be allowed to persist.
According to a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president described the latest attacks as “very depressing” and called for urgent and decisive action.
“The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough,” President Tinubu was quoted as saying.
To this end, intelligence agencies, police forces, and military personnel have reportedly been deployed to Benue to lead a coordinated security operation aimed at stabilising the state and bringing perpetrators to justice.
*Tasks Gov Alia to lead peace talks
More pointedly, the president has tasked the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, to immediately convene reconciliation talks involving all stakeholders, including farmers, herders, and community leaders. He urged Governor Alia to act as a true statesman and lead the charge toward peacebuilding and healing.
“This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue,” Tinubu said. “Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony and differences are identified and addressed with fairness, openness and justice.”
The president also warned political and community leaders to refrain from making incendiary comments or taking actions that could exacerbate the already volatile situation.
“Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings. They should also rein in those who go out to cause provocations and ignite reprisal attacks,” he said.
Tinubu reiterated his commitment to ending the violence and ensuring justice for all victims, directing security agencies to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the killings—regardless of which side they belong to.
The crisis in Benue State, often driven by farmer-herder clashes and communal disputes, has remained one of Nigeria’s most persistent internal conflicts. Despite various peace efforts, the cycle of violence has continued, often resulting in mass casualties and widespread displacement.
With this latest directive from the presidency, many Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether decisive federal action, coupled with proactive state-level dialogue, can finally deliver the peace Benue has long yearned for.
*Group urges Alia to declare state of emergency on security
A group, Zone “A” Peoples’ Assembly (ZAPA), has urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to declare a state of emergency on security to address security challenges in the state.
Its president, Mr Fanen Mondo, made the call at a press conference on Sunday in Makurdi.
Mondo, who blamed the attacks, killings and displacement on armed herders, said some of them were even foreign mercenaries.
The president further urged the governor to declare a state of emergency on security in Benue and personally lead the response.
He urged the governor to publicly and firmly engage the Federal Government over the happenings.
“In the past few months, we have witnessed a return of brutal, coordinated attacks on our people in communities such as Chito in Ukum, Tor Donga in Katsina-Ala, Turan in Kwande, Aôndoana in Gwer West, Yelwata in Guma, Apa, and Agatu.
“What links all these areas is not just blood and destruction; it is silence. Silence from those in positions of power who should act. Silence from those who should speak,” he said.
Mondo also accused politicians in the state of failing to speak out on the issue, adding that they have instead chosen to politicise the crisis.
“This silence is not neutrality; it is complicity. And the people of Benue see it for what it is. We urge him to rise to the occasion. Benue does not need a silent governor; we need a field commander, ready to defend our ancestral land,” he said.
He further urged President Bola Tinubu to stand by the Benue people in their time of need as they stood by him during the last election.
Mundo also urged the FG to deploy immediate and decisive military action to end the killings and provide emergency humanitarian support to affected communities.
