Tinubu Directs Security Forces To Arrest Perpetrators Of Benue Killings

…Gov. Alia: “This Is No Longer Insecurity; It’s Barbaric Inhumanity”

…Prof. James Ayatse Describes Attack As “Full-Scale Genocidal Invasion”

MAKURDI, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed security chiefs to arrest those responsible for the recent killings in Benue State, describing the violence as a national tragedy that demands urgent action.

Speaking during a visit to Makurdi on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Tinubu ordered the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

He also tasked the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) with gathering actionable intelligence to prevent further attacks.

“I expect there should be arrests of those criminals. Take out those criminals,” the president declared at the Benue Government House, where he met traditional rulers, community leaders, and stakeholders.

He announced plans to establish a peace resolution committee led jointly by Benue and Nasarawa States and proposed a high-level reconciliation panel that includes Tiv and Idoma traditional leaders.

“We must convert this collective tragedy into a foundation for lasting prosperity,” he said, urging for grassroots leadership and unity.

Tinubu urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to allocate land for ranching and accelerate peace-building efforts, emphasizing that “we were elected to govern, not to bury people.

Earlier, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, described the violence as a “full-scale genocidal invasion,” rejecting claims that the attacks were communal clashes or reprisals.

“This is a calculated, well-planned invasion. It is not mere insecurity – it is a campaign of extermination,” Ayatse said.

Governor Alia, echoing the Tor Tiv’s position, demanded a special federal intervention fund and the creation of state police. “Our people are being slaughtered in their sleep. This is no longer insecurity. It’s barbaric inhumanity,” he said.

He appealed to the federal government to move beyond condolences. “We need action, not sympathy. We need justice, not just empathy.”

Local residents offered a cautious welcome. Tertsea Benga said: “If this visit translates into action, then there’s hope.”

However, others like Laz Mom of BENGONET said Tinubu should have issued a stricter ultimatum to security chiefs. “How do we reconcile with faceless killers?” he asked.

Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun criticized the misuse of security votes and called for transparency and community policing. “Benue is not a budget line. It is home to millions”, he stated.

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) dismissed the crisis as a politically driven internal conflict, warning that mischaracterizing it as ethnic violence was dishonest and dangerous. The group called for elite troop deployment, independent investigations, and compensation for victims.

Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) distanced itself from circulating statements on the killings, promising to issue an official position later.

Despite a public holiday declared for Tinubu’s visit, students and residents lined the roads under the rain in Makurdi to welcome him. Some groups, clad in black and waving placards, silently demanded federal action to end the violence.