Tinubu Orders Security Chiefs to Restore Peace in Benue, Calls for Reconciliation

Tinubu Orders Security Chiefs to Restore Peace in Benue, Calls for Reconciliation

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a firm directive to Nigeria’s security chiefs to implement immediate and decisive action aimed at restoring peace and security to Benue State following renewed waves of reprisal attacks that have left many dead.

In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed deep concern over the rising toll of violence, describing the ongoing bloodshed in Benue as “inhuman and anti-progress.”

Responding to the latest killings, President Tinubu reaffirmed his earlier order for a coordinated security response, which has now seen intelligence officers, police, and military operatives deployed to the state to take charge of security operations.

“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,” President Tinubu said.

Beyond the security response, the President tasked Governor Hyacinth Alia with initiating reconciliation talks and facilitating dialogue among all parties in the conflict—including farmers, herders, and local communities—to bring an end to the persistent violence.

“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,” Tinubu said. “Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony and differences are addressed with fairness, openness, and justice.”

The President also warned political and community leaders in Benue to refrain from making inflammatory remarks that may exacerbate tensions, urging them instead to help de-escalate hostilities and rein in individuals bent on causing provocations.

Security agencies have been mandated to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of violence on all sides of the conflict, as part of a broader effort to restore order and ensure justice.

Benue State has been plagued by years of violence, largely fueled by clashes between farmers and herders, leading to thousands of deaths and displacements. President Tinubu’s renewed directive signals a push for both military and political solutions to a crisis that has defied resolution for over a decade.