Benue Killings: President Tinubu Visits Makurdi, Holds Crisis Talks with Stakeholders
By Wafric - Politics
Wafric News – June 18, 2025
Makurdi, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday arrived in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, for a high-level engagement with stakeholders amid growing insecurity and a spate of deadly attacks across the state. The visit follows the brutal killing of dozens in Yelwata community, Guma LGA, which has reignited tensions across central Nigeria.
Touching down at the Tactical Air Command Base in Makurdi at approximately 12:58 pm, the President was received by Governor Hyacinth Alia and top security officials. His first stop was the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, where he met and commiserated with survivors of the latest violence.
In a symbolic move, the state government declared a public holiday to mark the visit, underlining the significance of the President’s presence in the restive region.
Tinubu being welcomed on his arrival in Benue State
Tinubu Engages Community, Political Leaders in Town Hall
WafricNews can confirm that the President is holding a stakeholder meeting at the Government House Banquet Hall, Makurdi, bringing together a cross-section of political, religious, and traditional leaders from across Benue and the North-Central zone.
Among attendees are the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; service chiefs; state and federal lawmakers; local government chairpersons; and members of the Benue Elders’ Council.
Traditional rulers representing the state’s diverse ethnic groups are also present. Their participation is seen as critical, given their grassroots influence and role in conflict mediation.
President Tinubu is expected to engage directly with victims’ families, displaced persons, and community leaders from affected areas, especially Yelwata, where the most recent attack claimed at least 59 lives and displaced more than 3,000 residents.
Deadly Pattern of Violence
The President’s visit comes on the heels of yet another devastating attack in Yelwata last Friday, reportedly carried out by armed herders. While official figures place the death toll at 59, some local accounts suggest the number may be much higher, possibly exceeding 200.
This incident is part of a worrying trend in Benue, which has become one of the most affected states in Nigeria’s ongoing farmer-herder crisis.
Since the beginning of 2025, WafricNews has documented at least four large-scale attacks across Benue:
Gwer West & Apa (June 2025): 33 killed in coordinated assaults.
Ukum & Logo (April 2025): Over 72 slain in simultaneous militia attacks.
Otukpo (April 2025): 11 killed in Otobi, with homes torched and dozens injured.
Otukpo (February 2025): 6 killed in Okpamaju and Asa communities in a similar raid.
Each of these incidents has left deep scars, displacing thousands and straining already limited humanitarian resources.
Defence Chief Orders Offensive
In response to the Yelwata killings, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has ordered a swift and targeted military operation to dismantle armed groups responsible for the atrocities.
Speaking in Makurdi during a briefing with traditional rulers, General Musa stated:
“We know where they are hiding. We will go after them. We must dislodge these elements before they strike again.”
His remarks signal a potential shift from defensive posturing to proactive military engagement in the troubled areas.
(Right to left) Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; and Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, during their visit to Yelewata community in the Guma Local Government Area of the state on Monday, June 16, 2025. NSA Ribadu: ‘This Is a Shared Tragedy’
Back in April, NSA Nuhu Ribadu had paid a solidarity visit to Benue following the massacre in Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo LGAs. During a stakeholders’ meeting, he pledged federal support in ending the killings:
“What happened is a tragedy — an act of evil. But when evil comes, good people must unite. We will solve this problem together. Benue is not alone.”
Protests, Grief, and Calls for Action
The attack on Yelwata sparked spontaneous protests by youths demanding an end to the killings and greater federal intervention. Grief-stricken families have also called for justice and permanent security measures to safeguard vulnerable rural communities.
International voices have joined the condemnation, including the Vatican, with Pope Leo XIV describing the killings as “an affront to human dignity and peace.”
A State on Edge
Benue’s security crisis, largely driven by armed herders and militia groups, has persisted for years, but 2025 has seen a significant escalation in both frequency and brutality. Rural areas remain the hardest hit, with little respite for farming communities already battling food insecurity and displacement.
As President Tinubu continues his engagements in the state, many residents are hoping his visit will mark a turning point—not just in words, but in concrete action that addresses the root causes of the violence and restores peace to Nigeria’s food basket.
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