MAKURDI, BENUE — June 19, 2025 | By IDNN Political Bureau
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has come under intense scrutiny following his visit to Benue State amid a brutal massacre that left over 100 people dead in Yelwata, Guma LGA. While he delivered strong rebukes to security chiefs and called for actionable reforms, critics—led by Labour Party’s Peter Obi—accused him of political grandstanding and misplaced optics.
During his meeting with stakeholders in Makurdi, the President openly challenged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the lack of arrests following the attack.
“How come no one has been arrested? The criminals must be arrested immediately,” Tinubu thundered.
THE SECURITY SHAKE-UP
Tinubu issued fresh directives to the Chiefs of Defence, DSS, and NIA to “retool their information channels” and ensure the violence does not repeat itself. He emphasized intelligence-driven security and called for a multi-agency approach to crisis management in Benue.
The President also instructed Governor Hyacinth Alia to allocate land for ranching, framing it as a step toward ending the farmer-herder conflict.
“The value of human life is greater than that of a cow,” Tinubu said. “You were not elected to bury people. We’ll work with you to restore peace.”
GENOCIDE OR CLASHES? A WAR OF DEFINITIONS
The President’s rhetoric about “reconciliation” clashed with the tone of Benue’s traditional and political elite.
The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, rejected the narrative of communal clashes, calling the violence a “well-planned genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign.” He insisted the crisis is not a misunderstanding between neighbours but a calculated attack.
“Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment. This is not a clash. This is war,” he said.
BACKLASH FROM PETER OBI
Peter Obi condemned the atmosphere of celebration that marked the President’s visit. He described Tinubu’s outfit as more suited to a campaign than a condolence trip and criticized the Benue State government for turning a tragedy into political spectacle.
“This is not how any compassionate nation behaves,” Obi said, calling the visit a “charade” devoid of empathy.
He blasted the government for organizing children to sing and dance in the rain while others mourned their dead.
MACBAN STRIKES BACK
Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) issued its own grievance report, claiming 57 Fulani herders killed and 4,348 cattle stolen in Benue in 2025 alone. The group accused the media of bias and warned of rising resentment over perceived state inaction.
“These killings are systematic and targeted,” MACBAN said. “No arrests. No prosecutions. No compensation.”
MILITARY: “NO SUCH THING AS FARMER-HERDER CLASHES”
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, argued that the term “clashes” misrepresents the issue. He called for an end to animal movements, linking violence to rustling and land disputes. He urged political solutions and backed the ranching directive.
CIVIL ANGER AND RIGHTS GROUPS RESPOND
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Centre for Change joined calls for an overhaul of the security system, describing the Benue tragedy as a national failure. HURIWA urged structured community self-defence under military supervision, citing the CJTF model from Borno as a success story.
Senate leaders also declared:
“We are tired of mourning. Tired of writing condolence letters. Benue needs peace, not platitudes.”
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