The Tor Tiv V of Benue State, Prof. James Ayatse, has stated that the violence plaguing the state should not be described as a farmers-herders crisis or communal conflict.
According to him, what is happening in Benue State is a “genocidal invasion and land grabbing by terrorists.”
He made this assertion during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state amid rising insecurity.
“We have great concern about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue State,” the Tor Tiv said.
What we are dealing with in Benue is a calculated, well planned, full scale genocidal invasion and land grabbing campaign by herder- terrorists and bandits.
He continued, “Your excellency, it is not herders-farmers clashes, it is not communal clashes, it is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes. It is this misinformation that has led to suggestions such as ‘remain tolerant, negotiate for peace, learn to live with your neighbours.’ What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale, genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits, which has been on for decades and is worsening every year. Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong results.
“So we are dealing with something far more sinister than we think about. It is not learning to live with your neighbours, it is dealing with the war.”
President Bola Tinubu arrived in Benue State on an official visit following a spike in deadly attacks. He landed at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Makurdi, around 12:58 p.m.
The state government had declared a public holiday in honour of the President’s visit.
The presidency, in a prior statement, noted: “President Bola Tinubu has directed security chiefs to implement his earlier directive to bring lasting peace and security to Benue State.”
This renewed directive followed a horrific overnight attack on the Yelewata community on June 14, during which over 100 residents were reportedly killed by gunmen. The massacre has triggered national and international outrage, with human rights organisations decrying the unending violence in the region.
In the statement, Tinubu described the violence as a reprisal.
“President Tinubu renewed his order in the wake of the latest round of reprisal attacks that led to the death of many people,” the statement said.
“On the president’s directive, intelligence chiefs, the police and the military have arrived in the state to direct security operations and restore sanity.”
Condemning the killings as “inhuman and anti-progress,” the president added that the violence must not be allowed to continue, urging swift and impartial action from security forces.
He said, “The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough.
“I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.”
The killings have also drawn condemnation from the international community.
Amnesty International, in a statement, said: “The horrifying killing of over 100 people by gunmen that invaded Yelewata from late Friday into the early hours of Saturday shows the security measures government claims to be implementing in the state are not working.”
The rights watchdog warned of a growing humanitarian crisis and demanded accountability.
