President Bola Tinubu has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State to urgently initiate dialogue and reconciliation efforts between warring groups in the state following a deadly attack that left more than 100 people dead on Friday.
In a formal statement released by the presidency on Sunday, Tinubu described the killings as âinhuman and anti-progressâ and tasked Governor Alia with assuming a statesman role to lead peacebuilding efforts in the state.
The directive from the president follows widespread criticism from Nigerians who accused him of being slow to respond to the massacre.
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The backlash intensified after Tinubu issued a condolence message to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding a plane crash in India, while remaining silent for two days on the Benue killings.
The presidentâs statement, titled âBenue Crisis: President Tinubu Directs Security Chiefs To Implement Earlier Directive, Tasks Governor Alia On Reconciliationâ, was posted on the official presidential X account. It reiterated his earlier order to Nigeriaâs security agencies to restore order in Benue and to crack down on those responsible for the wave of violence.
According to the statement, Tinubu has instructed security and intelligence agenciesâincluding the military, police, and intelligence servicesâto mobilize and take control of the security situation in the state.
The president emphasized that political and community leaders in Benue must act responsibly and refrain from making inflammatory statements that could worsen tensions. He condemned any rhetoric that could provoke further reprisals and urged leaders to work toward a peaceful resolution.
âEnough is now enough,â Tinubu said in the statement. âI have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.â
He stressed that enduring peace in Benue could only be achieved if leaders across political and ethnic divides collaborate sincerely, addressing grievances with fairness and justice.
President Tinubu charged Governor Alia with the responsibility of bringing all sides to the table to engage in meaningful dialogue. According to the president, the people of Benue must not be condemned to continuous bloodshed when peace is possible through reconciliation and constructive leadership.
The president also reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in Benue and other parts of the country. He stated that security operatives had already been deployed and were on ground directing efforts to stabilize the region.
Benue State has experienced repeated attacks in recent months, many linked to violent clashes between herders and farming communities. The latest violence has been described by local residents as the deadliest incident since 2009.
Despite prior statements from security chiefs claiming they had relocated to Benue to manage the conflict, Fridayâs massacre underscored the ongoing failure of those interventions. Eyewitness accounts and community leaders reported that entire villages were attacked, with homes burnt and dozens of residents killed in cold blood.
The renewed violence has further heightened tensions in a state already burdened by years of conflict, displacement, and loss. Calls for urgent government intervention and justice for victims have grown louder in the wake of the recent tragedy.
With more than 100 lives lost in a single attack, the demand for effective and immediate government action has become a national priority. The presidentâs latest directive signals a more forceful response, though many await evidence of concrete results on the ground.
As security forces move into the state and as the governor is tasked with reconciliation, the coming weeks will test whether these measures can truly bring lasting peace to a region scarred by years of conflict.
