By John Moses
President Bola Tinubu has issued a renewed directive to Nigeria’s security chiefs, calling for urgent and decisive measures to end the cycle of violence and bloodshed in Benue State.
The call to action follows a recent surge in reprisal attacks that left many dead and reignited fears of growing instability in the region. According to a statement released by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu instructed intelligence agencies, the military, and the police to take charge of the situation and ensure lasting peace is restored.
Security officials have since been deployed to Benue to coordinate field operations directly, signalling a shift towards more proactive intervention in the troubled state.
In addition to deploying security forces, President Tinubu urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to take the lead in organising reconciliation talks between communities, farmers, and herders in an effort to break the cycle of violence and promote peaceful coexistence.
“The killings in Benue State are deeply distressing and must not be allowed to continue unchecked,” Tinubu said. “Enough is enough. I have instructed all security agencies to act decisively and ensure those responsible—regardless of their affiliation—are arrested and prosecuted.”
The president also cautioned political and community leaders in the region to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and actions that may further stoke tensions.
He stressed that progress and peace are only possible when local leaders come together in good faith, prioritising justice and unity over division.
“This is the time for Governor Alia to rise to the challenge of statesmanship,” the statement read. “True reconciliation begins when all sides are heard and differences are addressed with openness, fairness, and mutual respect.”
