President Bola Tinubu formed a committee on Wednesday to help restore long-term peace in Benue State following last Friday’s tragedy in the Yelewata hamlet in Guma Local Government Area, which killed over 200 people.
The President’s peace committee includes former Military Governor of Benue State, Gen Atom Kpera (retd.), Senator George Akume, Senator Gabriel Suswam, and Samuel Ortom, all of whom are previous Benue governors.
HRM Prof. James Ayatse, the Paramount Ruler of Tiv Nation and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, and HRM Dr. John Elaigwu, the Paramount Ruler of Idomaland, the Ochidoma, are also members of the team.
Tinubu advised Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia on the need of stakeholder management for peaceful and progressive governance, urging him to support the operations of the peace committee, which also includes federal officials and non-indigenous residents of the state.
“Let us meet again in Abuja. Let’s fashion out a framework for lasting peace. I am ready to invest in that peace. I assure you, we will find peace. We will convert this tragedy into prosperity,” the President told Alia at a town hall meeting at the Benue State Government House banquet hall in Makurdi, the capital city.
The meeting was attended by the Federal Government’s Secretary, George Akume, as well as traditional rulers and past state governors. The governors of Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa all attended the conference.
Tinubu emphasised that the peace initiative would only have long-term outcomes if it was broad-based and collaborative, urging collaboration with nearby Nasarawa State, whose governor, Abdullahi Sule, was also present at the meeting.
“I want the traditional rulers — the Tor Tiv, the Och’Idoma and others to be included in this peace committee.
“The Governor of Nasarawa is here, and the Governor of Benue is here; let’s create that synergy for peace, development, and prosperity.
“We’re here to govern, not to bury. We’re here to raise families, not to lose some,” he said.
Tinubu called on the people of Benue to support Alia, urging communities to embrace peace and inclusion.
“This is a very critical time. The governor needs your help. Let’s have a committee with non-indigenes incorporated.”
He assured the state of the federal government’s backing and his personal resolve to end the continuous killings, saying, “I give you the assurance that we will find peace; we will convert this tragedy to prosperity again and again.”
Armed herders allegedly stormed Yelewata village in Guma LGA of Benue State late Friday, June 13, unleashing one of the deadliest assaults the state has seen in years.
According to Amnesty International and local officials, at least 100 people were dead, others are missing, and hundreds are suffering from gunshot and burn wounds when assailants set fire to their homes early Saturday morning.
The police confirmed the raid, with some estimates estimating the casualties at approximately 200. Many victims were internally displaced persons who sought safety in the village following previous attacks.
The Benue State administration has initiated a manhunt, but villagers fear further reprisals as the rainy season begins, which is the peak period for contested grazing and planting.
At Wednesday’s town hall meeting, Tinubu asked the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to arrest those responsible for the terrible deaths.
“I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals. Let’s get those criminals,” Tinubu told the IGP.
While appreciating the military high command for their response so far, the president expressed dissatisfaction at the lack of arrests days after the mass slaughter.
“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.
“Christopher (Chief of Defence Staff), thank you very much. I watched your comments. I know you can’t be tired of staying in the bush, including Oluyede (Chief of Army Staff) and the Air Marshal.
“Thanks to all of you, but we need to keep our ears to the ground. Let’s get those criminals; let’s get them out,” he said.
Tinubu also directed the heads of intelligence agencies to improve their surveillance and response systems.
“DG NIA and DG DSS, retool your information channels and let’s have tangible intelligence that this will not occur again,” Tinubu said.
