President Bola Tinubu on Sunday directed security chiefs to implement his earlier directive to bring peace and security to Benue State.
He also charged the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, to convene reconciliation meetings and dialogue among the warring parties to end the incessant bloodshed.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Sunday titled, ‘Benue Crisis: President Tinubu directs security chiefs to implement earlier directive, tasks Governor Alia on reconciliation.’
This follows the latest round of reprisal attacks that led to the death of many people.
“On the president’s directive, intelligence chiefs, the police and the military have arrived in the state to direct security operations and restore sanity,” the statement partly read.
Gunmen stormed Yelewata village in Guma LGA of Benue State late Friday, unleashing one of the deadliest assaults the state has seen in years.
Amnesty International and local official reports say that at least 100 residents were killed, dozens remain missing, and hundreds are nursing gunshot and burn wounds after attackers set houses ablaze through the early hours of Saturday.
Police confirmed the raid but have not issued a final casualty figure, while emergency workers say many victims were internally displaced people who had taken refuge in the village after earlier attacks.
Benue authorities have launched a manhunt, but residents fear more reprisals as the rainy season, peak period for disputed grazing and planting, sets in.
The statement added, “President Tinubu has equally charged the governor of Benue State with convening reconciliation meetings and dialogue among the warring parties to end the incessant bloodshed and bring lasting peace and harmonious coexistence between farmers, herders, and communities.”
The President described the killings and bloodletting as inhuman and anti-progress.
He 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.
Tinubu also urged political actors to rein in those who go out to cause provocations and ignite reprisal attacks.
He said, “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.”
Sunday’s directive comes one month after the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said he is working with governors to provide synergy for the military’s operations across states.
Briefing State House Correspondents after a security meeting on May 16, Musa said, “The president is also looking at the aspect of also discussing with the governors for their own support, buy-in, ensuring that the dividends of democracy are also extended to the communities to be able to clamp down on the issue of insecurity.”
