BENUE MASSACRE: Tinubu to Meet All Stakeholders, Traditional Rulers, Political, Religious, Community Leaders and Youth Groups

In a move to end the violence that has cost many lives and destroyed homes across several communities, President Bola Tinubu will on Wednesday (today) hold a meeting with the stakeholders in Benue State and listen to their concerns firsthand.

Over 200 people were reportedly killed within a few hours, including children and women, at Yelewata, Guma LGA on Friday night. The killers reportedly used sophisticated weapons and fuel to set houses ablaze.

Outraged by the bloodshed, the State House of Assembly, in a resolution on Tuesday, asserted that Governor Hyacinth Alia, his deputy Sam Ode, and all the 32 lawmakers had let the people down.

This is just as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and the Coalition of United Political Parties called on President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state.

The African Democratic Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party accused the President of prioritising politics over people’s lives, urging him to urgently reform the nation’s security system to protect citizens more effectively.

Also, the United Nations firmly condemned the recent attacks and called for a comprehensive investigation into the incidents.

Responding through the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mathew Abo, the governor stated that his administration fully supported the security agencies, insisting that he had not neglected his duty to protect the people.

Attacks by unidentified gunmen in the state have resulted in the tragic loss of lives and mass displacement over the years, sparking widespread outrage and concerns.

In response to the latest killings, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, visited Makurdi and Yelewata on Monday to lead a coordinated security operation aimed at tracking down the perpetrators.

In a statement on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, disclosed that the President was scheduled to meet with key stakeholders in Benue State today.

“The President’s visit aims to assess firsthand the recurring crisis that has claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction,” Onanuga stated.

During his stay, Tinubu will meet with all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political, religious, community leaders, and youth groups, to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities.

“In preparation for the visit, President Tinubu has already dispatched the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees to Benue State.

“The President is expected to hold a town hall meeting with all stakeholders during the visit,” the statement read.

Tinubu had condemned the ongoing violence in Benue State and called on all leaders and residents to embrace peace, love, and mutual understanding.

Ahead of the President’s visit, the Secretary to the GF, Senator George Akume, convened a consultative meeting with stakeholders.

The President’s Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, who revealed this via his verified X account on Tuesday, disclosed that retired generals, serving and retired politicians, participated in the meeting.

He stated,” Presently in Yelwata village, one of the villages attacked recently in Benue ahead of the visit of President Bola Tinubu tomorrow. The people gathered dejectedly to hear from their leaders & lawmakers from Abuja. The conversation and consultation were led by the SGF, George Akume

“League of Retired Generals from Benue State, 18 months ago, handed a Security Brief to Governor Hyacinth Alia. This is the time to dust up that document as President Tinubu charges all stakeholders in Benue to find a lasting solution to the incessant farmers-herders clash.

“Makurdi, Benue State, is gradually filling up ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s Wednesday visit. Retired Generals, Serving and Retired Politicians, former and Serving Ministers, serving and former federal lawmakers, notables, community leaders, businessmen of Benue origin, academics, civil society leaders, youth leaders, APC leaders and other party leaders are on ground, political appointees also.

“This time, a renewed commitment to stopping the bloodletting and finding a lasting solution seems on hand.  They have come around because they also believe that President Tinubu will engage  and ensure that peace returns.”

During Tuesday’s sitting, members of the Benue State House of Assembly openly admitted that the governor, his deputy, Sam Ode, and even the lawmakers themselves had not lived up to the expectations of the people, especially in light of the killings in the state.

In an emotional debate sparked by a motion of urgent public importance raised by Peter Uche, who represents Guma State Constituency, many lawmakers expressed deep concern and agreed that all elected officials in the state have failed to protect their communities from the relentless attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen.

The first to speak on the matter was Thomas Dugeri, who represents Kwande West State Constituency.

While addressing his colleagues on the floor of the House, he passionately reminded them that the core purpose of any government is to safeguard the lives and property of its people.

He said, “The Constitution of Nigeria provides that the essence of government is the protection of lives and property. We are 34 that are elected people in the state, the governor, deputy governor and 32 of us as lawmakers; we have all failed our people.

“The governor has failed, the deputy governor has failed, and the 32 of us have failed. The time has come when we have to wake up and live up to our responsibilities.’’

Other lawmakers who spoke in the same vein include Terna Shimawua, the majority leader, Saater Tiseer and others, who fumed at the killings in Yelwata, describing it as genocide.

They decried the non-funding of the third tiers of government as one of the reasons for the escalating insecurity.

The minority leader, Michael Audu, decried the situation where funds meant for local government are not given to them.

He said, “The funds of local government should go back to them, let them start using it, the house of assembly will ensure judicious use of the funds, and if they fail to ensure adequate security, we will hold them.”

Supporting this, Peter Puusu said the problem happening is a result of the local government not being autonomous.

“There is no local government system in Benue again,” he stated.

They unanimously urged the full enforcement of the state’s anti-open grazing law.

Following the debate, the House reached several resolutions, including a call on the state government to observe three days of mourning—from Wednesday, June 18 to Friday, June 20, 2025—in honour of the lives lost in the Yelewata attack and other parts of Benue State.

They resolved as follows: “That the House condemns in very strong terms the coordinated invasion, massacre, genocide and acts of terrorism against the people of Yelewata and elsewhere in Benue State by the marauding Fulani herdsmen militia only comparable to the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 and the holocaust against the European Jews during World War II.

“That the House observes a one-minute silence in honour of the innocent lives killed in Yelewata and anywhere in Benue State.

“That the State Emergency Management Agency should, as a matter of urgency, provide shelter and relief materials to the victims of the attack in Yelewata to ease their pain.

“That the House request the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to, in line with section 218 (1) — (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, expedite action in ending the killings in Benue State.  This will give the Benue People a sense of belonging and enable them to go back to their farms without fear.

“That the House request the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia to use the resources at his disposal to mobilise the Benue State Civil Protection Guards w complement the conventional security agencies to end the killings of innocent citizens in the state.

“That the Benue State Government and all security formations in the State should ensure full implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches (Establishment) Law, 2017, as amended.

“That the Governor of Benue State should lead a high-powered delegation of prominent Benue indigenes to the President to explain the real reasons behind the ongoing killings in the state, to change the false narratives of the herders/farmers crisis being peddled in sections of the media with the view to finding a lasting.”

They further urged President Tinubu to personally visit Benue State to show solidarity with the victims of the attacks, demonstrating leadership grounded in empathy, compassion, and respect for human life, as is common in other parts of the world during times of crisis.

To honour those killed in Yelwata, the lawmakers all wore black attire as a symbol of mourning.

In response to the lawmakers, the Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mathew Abo, said the governor did not neglected his duty to protect the people.

He explained that the governor has made consistent efforts to bring security chiefs and other key stakeholders to the state.

The commissioner said, “Well, the governor has not failed in providing security to the people in the state, the coming of security chiefs and the visit of the president are all part of government efforts.

“He has also tried his best to provide logistics to security operatives in the state, so he has not failed, and you don’t expect him to carry guns and go to the bush.’’

In preparation for President Tinubu’s visit to Benue State, the state government deployed earth-moving machines to repair key roads expected to be used by the presidential convoy.

Several roads, including the Kashim Ibrahim Road, which leads to the Government House, were being patched on Tuesday morning.

There is also a noticeable influx of security personnel and top government officials into the state capital, with most hotels fully booked.