Malik Yahya/
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a directive to Nigeria’s security chiefs to arrest the perpetrators of the recent massacre in Yelewata community, Benue State, where over 100 people were killed by suspected herder militias.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholder meeting at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, the President openly challenged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the lack of arrests following the bloodbath.
“Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests?” Tinubu queried. “The criminals must be arrested immediately.”
The President, who was accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and governors from Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa states, also directed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and intelligence heads at the DSS and NIA to intensify surveillance and intelligence gathering efforts.
Earlier in the day, Tinubu visited victims of the attacks at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, where he called for urgent blood donations and reiterated that the tragedy should be converted into a turning point for peace and prosperity.
Emphasizing the importance of inclusive governance and stakeholder engagement, the President urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to set up a comprehensive Peace Committee comprising former governors, elders, traditional rulers, federal representatives, and non-indigenes.
“Let us meet again in Abuja. Let’s fashion out a framework for lasting peace. I’m ready to invest in that peace,” Tinubu said. “We must ensure this never happens again.”
He also charged the Benue State Government to allocate land for ranching, with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security directed to follow up.
Tinubu underscored the value of human life over cattle and emphasized the need to prioritize peace for sustainable development.
“The value of human life is greater than that of a cow. We were elected to govern, not to bury people,” he said.
Governor Alia, in his remarks, appealed for a Special Federal Intervention Fund to support displaced communities and rebuild livelihoods destroyed by violence. He also backed the establishment of state police as a long-term security solution.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, offered a blunt assessment of the crisis.
“This is not about farmer-herder clashes or reprisals,” he said. “This is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign.”
The monarch warned against politicizing the tragedy, condemning actors who allegedly hope for worsening insecurity to trigger a state of emergency.
In a moment of candor, President Tinubu acknowledged the difficulties of political leadership and opposition, noting: “Not everyone will like you in politics. They hate me too—like hell. But here I am, still your President.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding democracy, prosperity, and national peace—even for his critics.
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