- Tells Benue Governor to seek reconciliation with aggressors
- CDS blames military saboteurs for Benue massacre ahead of Tinubu’s visit
- Governor Alia claims President Bola Tinubu has not abandoned Benue
Although President Bola Tinubu has now scheduled a state visit to Benue State, his silence over the killings that have claimed over 200 lives in the state was disturbing.
President Tinubu’s silence over the Benue carnage until days ago is in marked contrast to the government’s swift condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Iran, drawing criticisms from Nigerians who question the administration’s priorities.
Following the outcry of Nigerians and human rights groups over the sustained violence displacing thousands and threatening food security, given that most of the victims are subsistence farmers, the president in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, directed Governor Hyacinth Alia, “to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue.”
He also “charged the governor of Benue State with convening reconciliation meetings and dialogue among the warring parties to end the incessant bloodshed and bring lasting peace and harmonious coexistence between farmers, herders, and communities.”
In a surprising turn of events, the Nigerian government swiftly spoke against the Israel-Iran conflict.
In a statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government condemned Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran and called for restraint.
“Nigeria expresses its grave concern and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urges both parties to exercise utmost restraint in the interest of regional and global peace,” the statement read.
“We reiterate that military action is not a substitute for negotiation.”
This move has drawn backlash from citizens, who feel that the government is more concerned with international diplomacy than with domestic security.
“Oga let’s officially condemn the killings in plateau state and Benue state first. Let’s practice the Nigerian first policy. Let’s first take out the spec in our eyes before attempting to take out the log in another man’s eyes?” Bassey Etienam (@bazijoy) wrote on X, reflecting a sentiment shared widely on social media.
A report recently released by SBM Intelligence indicates that at least 2,000 Nigerians were killed in the first quarter of 2025 alone, with Benue State recording 101 deaths, placing it among the worst-affected regions. The report also noted that 136 security personnel died during the same period.
As bodies continue to pile up and displaced communities struggle for survival, the silence from the Tinubu presidency speaks volumes.
Critics argue that while the government presents itself as a champion of peace on the global stage, it is failing to provide even the most basic security for its citizens at home.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, on Monday blamed the massacre of over 200 lives in Yelwata on the presence of saboteurs within the Nigerian military.
Recall that in May 2025, during a television interview, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum declared: “We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities. What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly.” He added: “Let’s remove contractocracy. In six months, we can put an end to this madness. We need not politicise insecurity.”
Speaking during a visit to Yelwata to assess the destruction caused by last Saturday’s attack, Musa disclosed that some military personnel have been betraying the army by leaking vital information to bandits.
“This is one killing too many. From here, I am going to see my commanders. We need to change our strategy, look inward, and see how we can address this. We can’t do it alone without the state; we need everybody to be part of it,” he said.
On the other hand, Governor Hyacinth Alia claims that foreign terrorists and not just herders, are behind the rising killings in his state.
He explained that many of the attackers are heavily armed, move without cattle, and do not speak any Nigerian language.
Governor Alia also said President Bola Tinubu has not abandoned Benue, noting that the Federal Government has been supporting the state with security forces and resources to tackle the ongoing violence.
He revealed this while speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday.
Alia stated that federal support has helped reduce the number of local government areas being terrorised by armed attackers from seventeen to three.
“After some recent attacks, three federal security agencies were sent to Benue State, forcing the invaders to withdraw from areas they occupied,” he said.
Governor Alia expressed concern that the violence in Benue has gone beyond the traditional farmer-herder crisis.
According to him, many of the attackers are now “heavily armed and move without cattle,” which has led authorities to classify them as “armed herders” rather than traditional pastoralists.
He also warned that some locals may be collaborating with the attackers.
“Some of them are being aided by people within,” Alia noted.
The governor further raised alarm over the porous borders around Benue. “We have serious security concerns along our borders with Cameroon, Taraba, and Nasarawa.”
He emphasized that many of the attackers are likely foreign nationals.
“They don’t speak any Nigerian dialect. Even if they are locally connected, they are not from the area,” he said.
Governor Alia also disclosed that he had discussed intelligence findings with Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule. “From our conversations and the intelligence reports shared, many of these terrorist activities are linked to foreign elements entering through Benue,” he added.
