Disturbed by the growing number of violent attacks by terrorists and armed herders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to visit Benue State on Wednesday (18/06/2025). His visit aims to bolster security efforts and rally residents in the fight against these persistent threats.
In the most recent wave of violence that prompted mass youth protests, at least 147 people lost their lives, according to Governor Hyacinth Alia.
President Tinubu cancelled his planned visit to Kaduna in order to be present in Benue, where he will participate in a town hall meeting with traditional rulers, political representatives, religious leaders, youth bodies, and civil society organisations. The session is expected to focus on localised approaches to ending the prolonged crisis.
Ahead of his arrival, Tinubu sent key officials, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume—who is a former governor of Benue—as well as National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, intelligence chiefs, and the defence committee chairs from the National Assembly, to assess the situation, according to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.
Speaking during an event in Abuja yesterday (16/06/2025), the President expressed his grief over the loss of lives in Benue and urged citizens to remain peaceful. “While I sympathise with the Benue people, I have spoken to the governor, the leadership and the people of Benue, to accept our condolences and try very consciously to maintain peace and harmony among themselves.
“I have always said that we are one single huge family living in the same house, staying in different rooms, but living together in harmony will be the result of our diversity for prosperity. We should be able to manage our anger and frustration.
Governor Hyacinth Alia welcomed the President’s scheduled visit, describing it as a comforting gesture to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and a strong signal that the federal government stands with Benue in these difficult times. Alia confirmed that 147 people were killed, with 127 already buried, eight awaiting burial, and two still in the morgue. He said the attackers are foreign militants, not traditional herders.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, condemned the killings, calling them brutal, inhuman, and unacceptable.
SGF Akume also appealed for unity and urged community members to work together for lasting peace.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) called on the security forces to intensify efforts to stop the carnage, while IGP Egbetokun announced the deployment of additional personnel to support forces already stationed in Benue. The IGP, along with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa, visited Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area to inspect the damage and consult with local leaders.
Governor Alia reiterated that those behind the attacks are heavily armed foreign terrorists, not cattle herders, pointing out that they neither speak local languages nor travel with livestock. He said the violence has outgrown typical farmer-herder clashes and now involves militants with advanced weapons. He also raised alarm over porous borders with Cameroon, Taraba, and Nasarawa, which he said are entry points for the attackers.
He noted that, following federal interventions, the number of local government areas under siege has dropped from 17 to three. Alia also emphasised that local accomplices are helping the attackers and urged residents to be vigilant and support security efforts.
Governor Alia added that he had spoken with Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, and both confirmed intelligence linking the attackers to foreign elements. He called on the federal government for ongoing collaboration to restore peace in Benue.
SGF Akume, in his remarks, urged leaders across the state to prioritise unity and community protection. He described the violence as a deep national tragedy and said similar patterns of economically motivated killings are seen in Plateau and Zamfara States. Akume praised President Tinubu’s rapid response and noted that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had begun delivering humanitarian aid to affected areas.
He pledged continued engagement with stakeholders and vowed to push for a sustainable resolution. “As someone from Benue, I will not rest until we find a lasting solution,” Akume said, while urging Nigerians of all faiths to respect the sanctity of human life and uphold peace.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Musa assured that the military will not spare any effort in ending the banditry. He visited Yelwata and promised that the armed forces would locate and neutralise the perpetrators. He acknowledged that insider collaboration had facilitated the attacks, but assured that compromised officers have been removed. “We’ll change our strategy and build back trust,” he said.
Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mike Aondoakaa, also called on Benue leaders to unite in this challenging time.
He urged residents to drop political, ethnic, and personal divides to work collectively towards peace. “The attackers do not care about tribe or politics. We must come together as one family,” he stated.
Aondoakaa appealed to President Tinubu to show leadership not just through words, but concrete action, calling for collaboration across all segments of society to restore safety and dignity to the state.
