President Bola Tinubu has ordered security chiefs to take swift action to restore lasting peace and security in Benue State, following recent attacks that resulted in numerous fatalities.
Gatekeepers News reports that on June 14, a tragic series of attacks attributed to suspected herdsmen resulted in the deaths of over 100 individuals in the Yelewata and Daudu communities within the Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State. By the following Sunday, reports indicated that the death toll from this incident had increased to 200. This violence occurred less than 48 hours after another attack in the Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa communities in the Makurdi LGA, where 25 people were killed.
The President, in a statement made available on Sunday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, emphasised the importance of reconciliation.
He has tasked the State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, with organising meetings and fostering dialogue among the conflicting parties to combat the ongoing violence and promote peaceful cohabitation between farmers, herders, and local communities.
“On the president’s directive, intelligence chiefs, the police and the military have arrived in the state to direct security operations and restore sanity,” Onanuga said.
Describing the killings and bloodletting as inhuman and anti-progress, Tinubu called on political leaders and community leaders in conflict areas to stop fuelling the crisis through unguarded utterances and statements that could further inflame tensions.
“The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough.
“I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.
“Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings.
“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 the divides work together in harmony and differences are identified and addressed with fairness, openness and justice,” the President was quoted as saying.
