President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a stern directive to Nigeria’s service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately go after those responsible for the recent spate of killings in Benue State.
The President gave the order on Wednesday during his visit to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, where he met with stakeholders following the renewed wave of violence in the North-Central region.
Speaking during the meeting at the Government House, Tinubu expressed strong dissatisfaction over the lack of arrests and called for urgent action.
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“Police, I hope your men are on alert to listen to information. How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals,” the President said, addressing the Inspector General directly.
He also tasked the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and other top military officials to intensify efforts in gathering actionable intelligence and neutralising the threat.
“Christopher, you have given much. I watch your comments you can’t be tired of staying in the bush,” Tinubu added. “Oloyede and the Air Marshal, we thank all of you, but we need to keep our ears to the ground. Let’s get those criminals, let’s get them out.”
The President emphasized the need for better coordination among security agencies, urging intelligence units to “retool their information channels” to ensure such attacks do not reoccur.
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Last week, gunmen suspected to be herders attacked Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of the state, killing dozens and displacing thousands. The assault sparked nationwide outrage and prompted protests across parts of the state.
The tragedy drew strong condemnation from political leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi, who both called on the federal government to act decisively to end the bloodshed.
President Tinubu’s visit and tough rhetoric signal a heightened federal response, but many residents and civil society actors remain cautious, urging the government to follow words with visible results on the ground.
