President Bola Tinubu is visiting Benue State today to address the recent wave of violent attacks by armed herders that claimed over 200 lives across several communities. The President postponed his scheduled trip to Kaduna to prioritize this visit, aimed at finding lasting solutions to the recurring crises in the region.
According to his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu will meet with traditional rulers, political leaders, security agencies, and youth groups during a town hall meeting. The visit follows the dispatch of top government and security officials, including the SGF, NSA, and IGP, to assess the situation.
Governor Hyacinth Alia confirmed that armed herders, some of whom reportedly entered Benue through the Nasarawa and Cameroonian borders, were behind the attacks. He revealed that many of the attackers arrive without cattle, armed with assault rifles, suggesting the violence has escalated beyond traditional herder-farmer conflicts to organized land-grabbing and terrorism.
SGF Senator George Akume condemned the killings, attributing the motivations to economic interests rather than religious tensions. He praised the President’s swift response and called for urgent collaboration among Benue leaders to restore peace.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, visited affected communities alongside other top police officials and ordered the deployment of additional tactical teams. He described the killings as acts of terrorism and promised swift justice.
The Sultan of Sokoto and the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) jointly condemned the killings, demanding an end to what they termed senseless bloodshed. Both Islamic and Christian leaders called for intelligence-led security interventions and national unity.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) called on the Federal Government to urgently prosecute perpetrators and possibly declare a state of emergency in the worst-hit areas. It also urged international support to help rebuild trust and restore peace.
Former Senate President David Mark warned that if government responses continue to fail, communities may resort to self-defense. He stressed that the government’s inability to protect lives risks undermining public confidence and national cohesion.
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