- Gov. Alia Advocates State Police, Special Intervention Fund
By Amos Aar, with Agency Report
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the Benue State Government to establish a high-level peace committee to address the protracted insecurity plaguing the state and its neighbouring Nasarawa State.
The President made this call on Wednesday during a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders at the Government House in Makurdi.
In his address, President Tinubu emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to resolving the crisis, proposing that the peace committee comprise elder statesmen, including former governors, the Tor Tiv, and the Och’Idoma.
President Tinubu also directed the committee to convene with him in Abuja for further deliberations on sustainable peace strategies.
He reiterated his commitment to investing in peace, urging Benue residents to unite and transform tragedy into prosperity.
“We must govern, not bury our people. We must multiply, not lose numbers,” the President declared, adding: “This tragedy must be converted into economic prosperity through unity and sincere leadership.”
The President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to investing in peace initiatives, stressing that Benue’s security challenges must be transformed into opportunities for growth.
He highlighted the urgency of establishing ranches to curb the unregulated movement of livestock, pledging full federal support for the initiative.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the security response, President Tinubu tasked the Chief of Defence Staff and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) with intensifying efforts to apprehend perpetrators of violence in Benue and other conflict-prone areas.
The President vowed that his administration would not allow “enemies of peace” to prevail as he charged Governor Alia to work diligently with stakeholders to restore stability, urging Benue residents to support their leader.
“Leadership demands resilience. Political adversaries may oppose progress, but we must rise above divisions and prioritize peace,” he stated.
Gov. Alia Advocates for State Police, Special Intervention Fund
Governor Hyacinth Alia, in his remarks, appealed to President Tinubu to support the creation of state police, describing it as a viable solution to localized security threats.
Governor Alia also called for a special federal intervention fund to assist communities devastated by violence and to provide relief for displaced persons.
Tor Tiv Rejects Farmer-Herder-Clashes-Narrative
His Royal Highness, Professor James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv, delivered a poignant address, rejecting the characterization of the crisis as mere “farmer-herder clashes.”
He described the attacks as a “calculated, genocidal campaign” aimed at displacing indigenous communities and seizing their lands.
In a video released by TVC, the Tor Tiv stated: “The crisis in Benue is not communal clashes or reprisal attacks.
“It is a systematic, full-scale invasion by armed herder terrorists and bandits — a land-grabbing campaign that has persisted for decades.
“Misdiagnosing this crisis leads to ineffective solutions. We are not dealing with neighbourly disputes; we are confronting a war.”
Professor Ayatse condemned the politicization of the crisis and pledged the full cooperation of the Benue people in genuine peace efforts.
He thanked President Tinubu for his visit but urged decisive action to halt the violence.
MACBAN Commends Tinubu’s Intervention
Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) praised President Tinubu’s peace efforts.
Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, MACBAN’s National President, expressed condolences for the lives lost and called for unity among all ethnic groups.
“As stakeholders in Nigeria’s prosperity, we remain committed to peaceful coexistence,” Othman-Ngelzarma stated, urging leaders to avoid divisive narratives.
