The Paramount Ruler of the Tiv Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Professor James Ayatse (Tor Tiv), has declared that Benue State is under a genocidal assault, not the result of farmer-herder clashes as commonly portrayed.
In a pointed message to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia on Wednesday, the monarch condemned what he called a deliberate distortion of the true nature of the violence.
“It is not herder-farmer clashes … it is this misinformation that has led to suggestions such as, ‘remain tolerant’, ‘negotiate for peace’, ‘learn to live with your neighbours’,” he stated.
According to HRM Ayatse, Benue is experiencing “a calculated, well‑planned, full‑scale genocidal invasion and land‑grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits … worsening every year.” He warned that, “Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment … it’s dealing with the war.”
His comments come as the state reels from a surge in attacks this year. In one of the most devastating incidents, between 100 and 150 people were killed in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area, when suspected armed herders launched a coordinated assault. Homes and market stalls were set ablaze, leaving widespread devastation.
President Tinubu condemned the massacre as “senseless bloodletting” and pledged decisive federal action. Additional reports indicate at least 20 people were killed in near-simultaneous attacks on surrounding villages, with some sources suggesting the toll could exceed 30. Separate coordinated raids across multiple communities resulted in over 72 deaths and displaced thousands into Internally Displaced Persons camps.
In response to the escalating crisis, the President ordered a nationwide security overhaul in April and urged governors and local leaders to join efforts to restore stability. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited Benue shortly after the April attacks, confirming more than 70 deaths from what has been termed “Black Friday,” and assured victims of federal support.
Tinubu has also directed security agencies to hunt down perpetrators across Benue and Plateau States. Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency is working alongside humanitarian organizations to support over 3,000 displaced people in the region.
Despite these efforts, the death toll continues to rise. Amnesty International reports that 6,896 people have been killed in Benue since June 2023, making it the worst-affected state in Nigeria’s unfolding security crisis.
On Wednesday, President Tinubu visited survivors of the Yelewata massacre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital. The victims are being treated for injuries sustained in the attacks.
The President landed at the Nigeria Air Force Base Airport in Makurdi at 12:58 p.m. and was received by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, along with Governor Hyacinth Alia. Also present were Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, North Central governors, federal lawmakers, ministers, and other top officials.
The visit underscores the gravity of the situation in Benue, where communities continue to mourn the loss of hundreds while confronting the fear of further violence.
