President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a direct order to Nigeria's security chiefs and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to immediately track down and apprehend those responsible for the recent wave of killings in Benue State.
The directive came during the President's visit to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Wednesday, following renewed deadly attacks in the North-Central state that have raised national concern.
During a stakeholders' meeting at the Benue Government House, Tinubu expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of arrests so far. "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 stated firmly.
Demands for Improved Intelligence and Action
Addressing the top military brass and intelligence community present at the meeting, President Tinubu emphasized the need for continued vigilance and more effective intelligence gathering.
"Christopher (the Chief of Defence Staff), you have given much. I watch your comments, you can't be tired of staying in the bush. 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," he directed.
The President also called on the Directors-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and State Security Service (SSS) to enhance their information channels. "DG NIA, DG SSS, retool your information channels and let's have tangible intelligence so that this will not occur again," Tinubu instructed.
Beyond Farmer-Herder Conflicts
During the visit, the Tor Tiv (paramount ruler of the Tiv people) reportedly told President Tinubu that the Benue crisis represents "a well-planned genocide by herders to grab our land" rather than simple farmer-herder clashes.
The International Society for Rights and Civil Advocacy (ISRCA) has also characterized the situation as an indication of terrorism rather than traditional resource conflicts between farmers and herders.
President Tinubu assured the people of Benue that his visit was not merely ceremonial. "I'm here not just to show my face," he told Governor Hyacinth Alia and other stakeholders, indicating his administration's commitment to resolving the security challenges in the state.
The President also noted that Nigeria has "enough land to feed and raise our children," suggesting that solutions to the crisis must be found without compromising the territorial integrity of any community.
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