By Ogochukwu Isioma
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the country’s security chiefs to implement his earlier directive to bring lasting peace and security to Benue State.
The President renewed his order in a statement on Sunday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in the wake of the latest round of attacks that led to the death of many people.
Onanuga said on the president’s directive, intelligence chiefs, the police and the military have arrived in the state to direct security operations and restore sanity.
“President Tinubu has equally charged the governor of Benue State with convening reconciliation meetings and dialogue among the warring parties to end the incessant bloodshed and bring lasting peace and harmonious coexistence between farmers, herders, and communities,” he noted.
Describing the killings and bloodletting as inhuman and anti-progress, Tinubu called on political leaders and community leaders in conflict areas to stop fuelling the crisis through unguarded utterances and statements that could further inflame tensions.
“They should also rein in those who go out to cause provocations and ignite reprisal attacks,” President Tinubu was quoted as saying in the statement.
Tinubu said the latest news of wanton killings in Benue was “very depressing”, adding, “We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough.”
According to him, “I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.
“Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings.
“This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue. Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony and differences are identified and addressed with fairness, openness and justice.”
Around 200 people were reportedly killed by terrorists who invaded Yelwata town, in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue state on Friday night – most of them internally displaced persons.
The terrorists, believed to be Fulani militia, besieged the town’s market square where many displaced people were seeking refuge. Residents said the terrorists opened fire and macheted many people. They also razed properties worth millions of Naira.
