Makurdi — President Bola Tinubu has vowed to confront the issue of land-grabbing, which is believed to be a major cause of recurring attacks by armed herdsmen in Benue State. This comes after over 200 people were killed in Yelwata last Friday in one of the deadliest attacks in the region.

During a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Makurdi on Wednesday, Tinubu emphasized that peace is essential for development and assured the people of Benue of his commitment to ending the violence. “We were not elected to bury the dead or care for orphans. We were elected to serve and bring peace,” he said.

He directed the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and tasked the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, to take swift action. He also ordered the formation of a peace committee made up of former governors, prominent traditional rulers including the Tor Tiv and the Och’Idoma, and non-indigenes, to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

The president stated that land, if indeed the root cause, must be shared equitably to ensure harmony. “We have enough land to live, farm, and raise families. We must change our attitude and embrace peace,” Tinubu said.

Although he was unable to visit Yelwata due to bad weather and road conditions, Tinubu said he had reviewed footage of the destruction and pledged government support for the redevelopment of affected areas. “This is not the kind of visit I wanted—I had hoped to come to Benue to commission development projects, not to mourn,” he added.

He also demanded accountability from the police, asking why no suspects had yet been arrested. He urged the DSS and NIA to step up intelligence gathering efforts to apprehend those responsible.

Governor Hyacinth Alia welcomed the president, noting that Tinubu’s visit marked the first by a Nigerian president in response to insecurity in the state. He expressed hope that the visit would usher in a new era of peace. Alia also called for the creation of state police to improve local security.

Also speaking at the event, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, urged President Tinubu to restore peace to the state. He dismissed the narrative of communal or herder-farmer clashes, describing the killings as a well-organized campaign of terror and land seizure by herder militias. He warned against political actors who might exploit the crisis for personal gain, including pushing for a state of emergency.

“We are not dealing with isolated clashes but a deliberate and genocidal land-grabbing agenda,” Ayatse said. “All we ask is peace, so our people can return to their farms and continue feeding the nation.”

Over 3,000 Displaced in Nasarawa Camps

Meanwhile, in neighboring Nasarawa State, over 3,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are in urgent need of food, healthcare, and shelter following the Yelwata massacre.

Benjamin Akwash, Director-General of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), said the IDPs are spread across four camps in Kadarko, Agyaragu, Idadu, and Kpata. He reported that over 1,800 are sheltering at St. John Primary School in Agyaragu alone, while others are located in Doma and Keana LGAs.

Akwash noted that the camps were already housing displaced Tiv farmers before the Yelwata attack, and the recent influx has worsened conditions. He said the agency is conducting a head count to provide aid but called for calm among the displaced.

An assessment by reporters revealed that women and children make up the majority of the displaced population. Many are sleeping on bare floors and facing severe hunger and health challenges.

“We need urgent help. We left everything behind to save our lives,” said Mary Iyorhe, one of the women at the Agyaragu camp. Others echoed similar concerns, citing lack of food, poor sanitation, and sleepless nights due to mosquito bites.