By Terhemen Mnachirin
President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the capital of the ‘food basket’ State, Makurdi, on Wednesday, brought a brief, refreshing relief to the hearts of a weary population – where families are grieving loved ones lost to senseless killings.
The President didn’t get the opportunity to see for himself, mothers holding starving children in IDP camps, and communities trembling under the relentless threat of ruthless armed herdsmen.
But, there is no doubt that the presidential visit will offer momentary reassurance to communities deeply affected by the horrendous violence. However, across the entire state, concerns remain about whether the visit will mark an end to the ongoing turmoil or merely serve as a temporary gesture.
Benue is not the first state President Tinubu has visited since assuming office as Commander-in-Chief under such a circumstance. In May of this year, he traveled to Katsina State to visit the frontline troops of OPERATION FANSAN YAMMA and to evaluate the security situation there.
The trip to Katsina prompted by serious security challenges in the region, including terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping., gave the President the chance to gain direct, first-hand insight into the troops’ operations without being accompanied by senior military officials.
Katsina is one of the states severely affected by armed banditry and terrorist activities, which continue to threaten peace and stability in nothern of the country.
Unlike in Katsina State, where the President met with courageous soldiers on the battlefield, Tinubu was brought into a sombre mood at the Benue State Teaching Hospital, where he met with victims of the Yelewata attack who were enduring various degrees of injuries.
President Tinubu must have been aware of several demands from the people of Benue before he arrived in Makurdi, the state capital, following the killing on Saturday, June 14th of over 200 persons in Yelewata village by suspected armed herdsmen.
The President’s earlier directives on two occasions for prompt security action to stop the killings did not work. Tinubu had ordered the deployment of top security officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), National Security Adviser (NSA), and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), to coordinate security operations on the ground.
But, among the demands of the Benue people, is the immediate and effective protection of citizens by the government to stop the brutal killings of defenseless men, women, and children.
The people also insist on urgent and concerted efforts by relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice, and the strict implementation and enforcement on the part of the State Governor – Hyacinth Alia of the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017, to curb the influx of armed herders.
Of deep concern is also, the prompt release of detained peaceful protesters who demonstrated against the killings as well as the provision of adequate relief materials to affected communities by both Federal and State Governments.
The Benue people also demand that going forward, there must be an end to the silence and inaction from political leaders, especially from and within the state, with calls for accountability and urgent government intervention.
In his interaction with stakeholders during his visit to Makurdi, President Tinubu declared in strong terms that “I was not elected to bury people, create orphans and orphanages, empathize with windows. We will work with you to achieve that peace.
“I have seen the people hospitalized. Governor, announce in a broadcast for people to donate more blood voluntarily to the hospitals and thanks to those medical personnel,” Tinubu spoke touchingly.
Away from the fears of Benue people who now see armed herdsmen as permanent enemies, the President is pushing strongly for unity and coexistence among different tribes and religions in the state.
This is what he told the gathering, “We are here to help you with peace. It is vital to development. We sang in our anthem that ‘though tribes tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand. It must be reflected in everything we do. In our character, in the economy, in sharing, in development, and in people.
“Maybe, part of the solution NSA as you are here is to find a channel on the radio so that we keep talking to each other about tolerance. The capacity to build our families as one single family.”
The President has, therefore, requested Governor Alia to form a Committee of Elders, comprising all former Governors in the state, and to immediately meet with him in Abuja. President Tinubu in his address also advised the Benue state Governor to collaborate closely with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and leverage his insights in working together to drive prosperity.
On one of the demands from the Benue people, President Tinubu charged the Chief of Defence Staff to arrest all the perpetrators of the heinous crime, and requested Governor Alia in his part, to facilitate the provision of land for ranching to end open grazing in the state.
The words of the paramount ruler of the Tiv, His Majesty, Professor James Ayatse who doubles as the chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, at the event will remain on marble in the annals of the history of the state.
This is what Tor Tiv said amid the cheering crowd; “We do have great concern about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue state.
“Your Excellency, it is not farmer/herders clashes. It is not communal clashes, it is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes. It is this misinformation that has led to suggestions such as, ‘remain tolerant’, ‘negotiate for peace,’ and ‘learn to live with your neighbour,’ Professor Ayatse said.
He stressed that “What we are dealing with here in Benue, is a calculated, well planned, full-scale genocidal evasion and land grabbing campaign by herders, terrorists, and bandits, which have been on for decades and is worsening every year.
“Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment. So, we are dealing with something far more sinister than we think about. It’s not learning to live with your neighbours, it is dealing with a war.
“The second apprehension we have is the pollination of the crisis. Politicians in the state are busy politicizing the crisis, passing blame, instead of joining hands to address the crisis. We hear that there are some politicians who would prefer that the crisis worsen so that it will be a basis for the declaration of a state of emergency in Benue state.
“This is unfortunate and any politician that prays for more people to die, for such a project is against the wishes of the people of Benue State,” Professor added.
In his remarks, Governor Hyacinth Alia appealed to the Federal Government to establish a Special Intervention Fund for communities affected by repeated violent attacks across Benue State.
“Your Excellency, while we continue to mourn our losses and rebuild from the ashes of pain, we humbly urge the Federal Government to consider establishing a special intervention fund for communities affected by these incessant attacks in Benue State,” Alia said.
The Benue State Governor said the fund would support the rehabilitation of displaced persons, reconstruction of destroyed homes and infrastructure, and the restoration of livelihoods, especially for farmers.
Alia who reiterated his support for establishing state police as a lasting solution to insecurity, pledged his administration’s full commitment to building a safe, stable, and prosperous Benue.
The Governors of Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa also attended the meeting.
Following President Tinubu’s visit to Benue and his return to Abuja, it is anticipated that his decision to postpone a planned trip to Kaduna and travel to the ‘food basket’— will enhance security efforts by strengthening stakeholder confidence and paving the way for a more coordinated and effective response to the crisis.
Beyond this, some experts view the visit mainly as a political gesture aimed at easing tensions and uniting political factions, emphasizing that the presidential visit must result in a concrete, comprehensive security strategy to halt the indiscriminate killing of innocent lives and the destruction of thousands of properties belonging to vulnerable farming communities.
There is also a strong conviction among certain groups that President Tinubu’s current visit signals a renewed dedication by the administration to tackle the violence. Many view this as the President’s final opportunity to demonstrate that the government is capable of confronting the crisis directly and putting an end to herdsmen-related killings.
