By President Tinubu Visits Benue
Orders manhunt and peace committee
Summary
- Over 100 killed in suspected herder attack on Yelewata village, Benue State
- President Tinubu visits survivors, directs swift arrest of perpetrators
- Peace committee and security reinforcements announced to curb ongoing violence
Makurdi, Benue State — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, visited Makurdi, the Benue State capital, in response to the brutal massacre in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, where suspected armed herders killed over 100 residents and displaced hundreds more. Some estimates put the death toll at nearly 200, making it one of the deadliest attacks in recent memory in the region.
President Tinubu visiting survivors of the Yelewata massacre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital
During his visit, Tinubu met with survivors at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, expressing condolences and pledging federal support. He also convened a high-level town hall meeting with Governor Hyacinth Alia, former governors, traditional rulers, security officials, and civil society groups, where he directed the immediate formation of an inclusive peace committee to address the recurring violence between herders and farmers.
The president further instructed security chiefs, including the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to intensify efforts to apprehend the attackers. Expressing frustration at the lack of arrests, Tinubu emphasized that justice must be swift and uncompromising.
Although he planned to visit the ravaged Yelewata community, the trip was canceled due to poor road access and adverse weather conditions. He, however, promised federal assistance for rebuilding the devastated area and approved the establishment of a ranch in Benue to ease tensions between nomadic herders and local farmers.
The Yelewata massacre, which involved indiscriminate shooting and arson, is part of a persistent wave of violence in Benue State, reportedly claiming over 500 lives in 2025 alone. Between May 2023 and May 2025, at least 1,043 people were killed in similar attacks.
The incident drew widespread condemnation, including from Amnesty International and Pope Leo, who prayed for the victims.
While President Tinubu’s visit was praised by Labour Party’s Peter Obi, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) criticized it as inadequate, and social media influencer Phyna questioned the credibility of the hospital visit, claiming there were no survivors.
Meanwhile, the federal government has deployed additional troops, air surveillance, and special forces to the state as part of a broader effort to restore peace and security to the region.
