A senior lecturer at Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), Dr. John Ogi, has expressed deep concern over the absence of arrests following the deadly attack in Yelewata community, Benue State, where more than 200 residents were killed in recent days.
President Bola Tinubu, who visited the state on Wednesday to address the situation, reportedly questioned security officials about why no suspects had been apprehended in connection with the massacre.
Following the President's stakeholder meeting in Makurdi, Dr. Ogi took to his official Facebook page to voice his frustrations about the security response. "My worries stand tall, with the number of securities I saw today in Makurdi and nobody has even been arrested as a suspect and no official intelligence information about the root cause of the killings or the sponsors. No open resistance done anywhere," he wrote.
The university don further questioned the effectiveness of the high-level intervention, asking, "We are just speaking English, after today, what is next is the big question. Has today's engagement commissioned the beginning of investigation or is it a mark of possible signing for the job to end the killings and for lives to be protected to start?"
Concerns Over Security Response
Dr. Ogi also raised questions about the timing and necessity of presidential intervention for security matters to be taken seriously. "Let the work go beyond talking to action. Must a president visit before the job be done and done well. How long has this been going on before today," he stated.
The Benue crisis has been characterized by some observers, including the Indigenous Society for Regional Conflict Analysis (ISRCA), as an indication of terrorism rather than clashes between herders and farmers. The Tor Tiv, a traditional ruler in the region, reportedly told President Tinubu that the crisis represents a "well-planned genocide by herders to grab our land."
During his visit, President Tinubu reportedly told Governor Hyacinth Alia to be prepared for criticism, describing it as "the hallmark of leadership." The President also assured residents that Nigeria has "enough land to feed and raise our children."
As the situation continues to develop, questions remain about what concrete actions will follow the high-profile presidential visit and whether effective security measures will be implemented to prevent further violence in the region.
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