President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday directed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to launch a manhunt for the perpetrators of last Saturday’s deadly attack on Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Speaking at a town hall meeting with political leaders and stakeholders in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, Tinubu said, “Christopher… We need to get our ears to the ground. Let’s get those criminals. Let’s get them out.”
His arrival in Benue followed mounting criticism over the government’s perceived inaction over recurring violence and displacement in the state.
Opposition politician, Peter Obi, had slammed Tinubu’s failure to visit affected communities or show solidarity with grieving families.
During his address at the town hall, Tinubu expressed frustration over the ongoing violence and political divisions in the region.
Speaking to Governor Hyacinth Alia, he said, “Your political enemies don’t want you to succeed… Are you just realising that?”
The president urged leaders across the North Central region to unite and prioritize peace above politics.
“We cannot do without one another. I will want us to create a leadership committee now to meet in Abuja to fashion out a strategy for lasting peace. And I am ready to invest in that peace,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Tinubu visited victims of last Saturday’s attack who are receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.
Authorities in Benue say the Yelewata massacre — allegedly carried out by armed herders — claimed over 200 lives, which makes it one of the deadliest incidents in the state’s recent history.
The attack came just days after similar raids in Makurdi and Katsina-Ala local government areas killed at least 26 people.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed on Monday June 16, that more than 6,527 people have been displaced following a wave of coordinated attacks by unidentified gunmen across multiple communities.
Benue State, known as Nigeria’s “food basket,” has for over a decade been plagued by brutal clashes between herders and farmers, often fueled by land disputes and ethnic tensions.
However, the frequency and intensity of the attacks have escalated sharply in recent months.
