- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has ordered arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators behind the massacre of over 200 residents of Yelewata town in Guma Local Government Area of Benue state.
NPO Reported that a group of suspect armed herdsmen had in the early hours of Saturday launched an attack on the town, burning several people alive in their homes.
The assailants also laid ambush for a team of Nigerian Army and Civil Defence operatives responding to the attack, killing two soldiers and one Civil Defence officer.
Reacting to the development in a post on his official X handle on Sunday, Tinubu confirmed being briefed over what he described as ‘senseless bloodletting’ in Benue.
The President charged security agencies to act decisively and bring the perpetrators to book.
He further charged the political and community leaders in the state to avoid inflammatory utterances while calling on the state governor, Alia Hyacinth, to immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation.
The statement read; “I have been briefed on the senseless bloodletting in Benue State.
“Enough is enough! I have directed the security agencies to act decisively, 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.”