Benue Crisis: Tinubu directs Security Chiefs to action, tasks Alia on reconciling warring parties

*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemns the killings and bloodletting in Benue State of Nigeria as ‘inhuman and anti-progress’, directing Security Chiefs to implement the Presidential directive to bring sustainable peace and security to the state

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has redirected Security Chiefs to implement his earlier directive to bring lasting peace and security to Benue State.

Tinubu renewed his directive in the wake of the latest round of reprisal attacks that led to the death of several people.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who noted this in a statement Sunday, June 15, 2025, affirmed that in line with President Tinubu’s directive, intelligence chiefs, the Police and the Military have arrived in Benue State to direct security operations and restore sanity.

The statement also disclosed that President Tinubu charged the Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State with convening reconciliation meetings and dialogue among the warring parties to end the incessant bloodshed.

The Federal Government said doing this would bring lasting peace and harmonious coexistence between farmers, herders, and communities in the troubled state.

Describing the killings and bloodletting as inhuman and anti-progress, President Tinubu urged political leaders and community leaders in conflict areas of Benue to stop fuelling the crisis through unguarded utterances and statements that could further inflame tensions.

The government also directed the Security Chiefs to rein in those who delivery deliberately cause provocations and ignite reprisal attacks in the affected areas of the state.

Enough is enough! Says Tinubu

Sounding the note of warning to trouble makers in Benue, Tinubu stated: “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.”

He further said: “I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.

“Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings.”

The President noted: “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.

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

Governor affirms fresh killing of 59 persons in renewed attacks on Yelewata

Meanwhile, amid the President’s directive to the Security Chiefs to end the killings and wanton destruction of lives and property in the state, Governor Alia of Benue State Sunday, June 15, confirmed the killing of 59 persons at Yelewata, where suspected herdsmen from Nasarawa State attacked the border town.

The governor, while addressing reporters at the Government House, in Markurdi, the state capital, the latest casualty figure was based on physical headcounts by security agencies working with families of those killed.

He among those killed were Military and civil defence personnel, who fought to defend Yelewata against the attacks.

Alia, however, gave some credit to his Nasarawa State counterpart, Abdullahi Sule, who also shared some intelligence on the killings which also left a woman dead in the Nasarawa axis.

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