In response to the escalating violence in Benue State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the deployment of a combined force of military personnel, police officers, and intelligence operatives to restore peace and halt the widespread bloodshed plaguing several communities.
The deployment follows a fresh directive from the President to security chiefs, instructing them to act swiftly and implement previous orders aimed at achieving lasting peace in the conflict-ridden state. This renewed effort is seen as part of a broader strategy to curb the rising tide of insecurity in Nigeria’s North Central region.
President Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, condemned the most recent wave of attacks in Benue as “deeply distressing,” emphasizing that the bloodshed must come to an end. “Enough is now enough,” he declared.
He also called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to take decisive leadership by initiating an inclusive dialogue and reconciliation process involving all aggrieved groups. According to the President, “This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue.
Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across divides work together in harmony, addressing grievances with fairness, openness and justice.”
Furthermore, President Tinubu urged political leaders in Benue to put aside their differences and cooperate fully with the security forces on ground, warning that failure to do so would prolong the suffering of innocent citizens.
The renewed federal action comes in the wake of another brutal attack over the weekend in Yelewata and Daudu communities of Guma Local Government Area.
At least 200 people, including five security personnel, women, children, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), lost their lives in what has been described as one of the deadliest assaults in the state this year.
Witnesses said the attackers descended on the communities in large numbers, launching coordinated strikes from two directions.
Local youth and security operatives made efforts to repel the invaders but were quickly overwhelmed. The gunmen then opened fire on civilians, many of whom were seeking refuge in market stalls and makeshift shelters. Reports also indicated that numerous farmers were killed, with some burned alive in temporary huts.
This tragic incident occurred barely 48 hours after another attack that claimed 25 lives in Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa villages in Makurdi Local Government Area, raising fresh concerns over the apparent breakdown in coordination between federal forces and state-level security mechanisms.
Amid the escalating violence, aggrieved youths staged a protest in Makurdi, blocking major highways including the Wurukum Roundabout. The protesters demanded urgent intervention from the Federal Government to save the state from further carnage at the hands of armed bandits and unidentified gunmen.
Spokesperson for the protesters, Brahms Ikuan, lamented the persistent state of siege in Benue, accusing authorities of slow response and neglect. He called for a more aggressive security strategy and the immediate return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
In a symbolic gesture of solidarity, Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims and appealed for peace and justice to prevail. His message, delivered during Sunday’s Angelus address, highlighted the growing global concern over the atrocities in Nigeria’s middle belt.
As pressure mounts, several civil society groups and concerned citizens have urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security in Benue, while stressing that democratic governance under Governor Alia should not be interrupted.
Meanwhile, observers continue to call for enhanced synergy between federal and state authorities to ensure effective, coordinated security responses capable of ending the cycle of bloodshed in Benue and its environs.