In the wake of a brutal attack that claimed nearly 200 lives in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State last Friday, President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a high-powered peace committee to help restore lasting stability to the region.
Speaking during a town hall meeting at the Benue State Government House banquet hall in Makurdi on Wednesday, Tinubu also directed the immediate formation of a framework for sustainable peace in the state.
The committee comprises prominent Benue leaders, including former military governor Gen. Atom Kpera (retd.), Senators George Akume and Gabriel Suswam, and former Governor Samuel Ortom.
Also participating are traditional rulers the Tor Tiv, HRM Prof. James Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma, HRM Dr. John Elaigwu as well as federal officials, security chiefs, and community representatives from across ethnic and regional lines.
President Tinubu tasked Governor Hyacinth Alia with leading the committee’s efforts and pledged full federal support.
“Let us meet again in Abuja to design a roadmap for lasting peace. I am committed to investing in it,” Tinubu said.
Governors from Nasarawa, Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, and Ondo States were present, alongside members of the Federal Executive Council and top security officials.
Tinubu highlighted the need for cross-border collaboration, particularly between Benue and Nasarawa, to tackle the root causes of violence.
“We are here to govern, not to bury. We are here to raise families, not to mourn their loss,” the President stated passionately.
He ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators, lamenting the lack of arrests nearly a week after the massacre.
To aid survivors, Tinubu directed the Minister of Agriculture to work with Benue authorities to allocate land for ranching. He also urged Nigerians to donate blood for victims receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.
Governor Alia’s Plea
Governor Hyacinth Alia called on the Federal Government to establish a Special Intervention Fund for rebuilding destroyed communities and resettling thousands of displaced residents.
He reiterated his support for the creation of state police forces, citing the ongoing violence and federal security gaps.
Traditional Rulers Raise Alarm
The Tor Tiv, HRM Prof. James Ayatse, described the attacks as “a full-scale genocidal invasion,” rejecting narratives framing the violence as routine farmer-herder clashes.
“This is not about herders or farmers. This is a calculated land-grabbing mission by terrorists,” he asserted.
He warned of political actors possibly exploiting the crisis to create instability or push for a state of emergency.
National Outrage
The Northern Elders Forum condemned the killings, labeling them a form of genocide and a failure of governance.
In a statement by spokesperson Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, the forum accused the federal government of allowing lawlessness to persist.
“Benue, a vital agricultural state, is being systematically dismantled while the perpetrators go unpunished,” the statement read.
The Concerned Christian Youth Forum also voiced strong condemnation. Its convener, James Adama, called for heightened community vigilance and more decisive action from the authorities.
“This violence has reached an unspeakable level. We mourn the dead and stand with the people of Benue,” Adama said.
As national concern intensifies, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to end the cycle of violence and ensure justice is served.
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