President Bola Tinubu has issued a firm directive to Nigeria’s security chiefs, demanding the immediate apprehension of those responsible for the recent brutal killings in Benue State. The President’s order comes in response to renewed attacks, particularly in the Yelwata community of Guma Local Government Area, which have resulted in the loss of over 200 lives and the displacement of thousands.
President Tinubu visited Benue State on Wednesday to assess the situation firsthand and engage with stakeholders. During a meeting at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, he expressed his deep concern and frustration over the lack of progress in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Directly addressing the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, President Tinubu questioned the absence of arrests, stating, “Police, I hope your men are on alert to listen to information. How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals.”
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The President then instructed all heads of security agencies to intensify their intelligence gathering and coordination efforts to effectively track down those responsible for the attacks. “Christopher (the Chief of Defence Staff), you have given much. I watch your comments, you can’t be tired of staying in the bush. Oluyede and the Air Marshal, we thank all of you, but we need to keep our ears to the ground, let’s get those criminals, let’s get them out. DG NIA, DG SSS, retool your information channels and let’s have tangible intelligence so that this will not occur again,” Tinubu stated.
President Tinubu’s visit and strong directive come amid mounting public outrage and political pressure over the Benue killings. Opposition leaders, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have strongly condemned the attacks and called for decisive action from the federal government. The international community has also expressed concern, with Pope Leo XIV describing the incident as “a terrible massacre.”
Prior to his visit, President Tinubu had directed Governor Hyacinth Alia to convene a reconciliation meeting between warring factions in Benue State, as part of broader efforts to restore peace and stability.
During his address in Makurdi, President Tinubu reinforced the message of unity and called for mutual tolerance and national cohesion. “As Nigerians, we are members of the same house, but sleeping in different rooms. Whether you are a Tiv, Idoma, or Yoruba, let’s turn this country into a nation of prosperity, and unity, and fight our enemies together; not fight each other,” he urged.
