Benue Massacre: Tinubu Calls for Urgent Security Response, Pope Mourns Lives Lost
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his instruction to security chiefs to put an end to the ongoing brutal killings in Benue State, following the recent massacre of over 100 people in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area.
This renewed directive was made public in a statement released Sunday evening by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, just hours after Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims of the “horrific massacre” in Benue.
According to Mr. Onanuga, top intelligence officials, along with senior police and military personnel, have been deployed to the state to oversee security operations and restore order in line with the president’s mandate.
More than 100 people were reportedly killed by armed men suspected to be Fulani militias, sparking outrage and unrest in Benue State. In response, angry youths from Yelwata blocked the Lafia-Makurdi highway in protest. The demonstrations continued into Sunday morning in Makurdi, the state capital, where police dispersed the protesters using teargas.
President Bola Tinubu, reacting to the violence, urged Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to immediately initiate reconciliation efforts and dialogue among the conflicting parties to bring a lasting end to the bloodshed. The president emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence between farmers, herders, and local communities.
Highlighting the underlying cause of the conflict—competition over scarce resources such as land and water—Tinubu condemned the ongoing violence, calling it “inhuman and anti-progress.” He appealed to political and community leaders to refrain from making inflammatory statements that could escalate tensions.
He also ordered the restraint and prosecution of individuals instigating violence or reprisal attacks, stressing: “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 added: “I have directed security agencies to act decisively, arrest perpetrators on all sides, and ensure they are prosecuted. This is the time for Governor Alia to rise to the occasion, lead peace efforts, and promote dialogue and reconciliation. Lasting peace is possible if leaders work together with fairness, openness, and justice to address the root causes of conflict.”
Pope Leo Offers Prayers for Victims of Benue Massacre
Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV has offered prayers for the victims of what he termed a “terrible massacre” in Benue State.
As reported by Vatican News, the Pope highlighted that many of those who lost their lives were being sheltered by a local Catholic mission at the time of the attack.
