Value Of Human Life Greater Than That Of Cows – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday set up a committee to help restore sustainable peace to Benue State following last Friday’s massacre in Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which saw around 200 people killed.
Members of the peace committee selected by the President include former Military Governor of Benue State, Gen Atom Kpera (retd.), Senator George Akume, Senator Gabriel Suswam and Samuel Ortom — all former Benue governors.
The Paramount Ruler of Tiv Nation and Chairman, Traditional Council, Benue State, HRM Prof. James Ayatse and Paramount Ruler of Idomaland, the Ochidoma, HRM Dr John Elaigwu, are also on the team.
Advising the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, on the importance of stakeholder management for peaceful and progressive governance, Tinubu urged the governor to champion the activities of the peace committee, which also includes federal officials, and non-indigenes living in the state.
“Let us meet again in Abuja. Let’s fashion out a framework for lasting peace. I am ready to invest in that peace. I assure you, we will find peace. We will convert this tragedy into prosperity,” the President told Alia at a town hall meeting at the Benue State Government House banquet hall in Makurdi, the capital city.
The meeting included the Secretary to the Federal Government, George Akume, traditional rulers and former governors of the state. The governors of Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa also attended the meeting.
Tinubu stated that the peace effort would yield sustainable results only if it were broad-based and collaborative, calling for synergy with neighbouring Nasarawa State, whose governor, Abdullahi Sule, was also present at the meeting.
“I want the traditional rulers — the Tor Tiv, the Och’Idoma and others to be included in this peace committee.
“The Governor of Nasarawa is here and the Governor of Benue is here, let’s create that synergy for peace, development, and prosperity.
“We’re here to govern, not to bury. We’re here to raise families, not to lose some,” he said.
The President called on the people of Benue to support Governor Alia, urging communities to embrace peace and inclusion.
“This is a very critical time. The governor needs your help. Let’s have a committee with non-indigenes incorporated.”
He assured the state of the Federal Government’s backing and his personal resolve to end the cycle of bloodshed, saying,
“I give you the assurance that we will find peace, we will convert this tragedy to prosperity again and again.”
At Wednesday’s town hall meeting, Tinubu directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to immediately arrest those who perpetrated the heinous killings.
“I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals. Let’s get those criminals,” Tinubu told the IGP.
While thanking the military high command for their response so far, the President expressed dissatisfaction at the lack of arrests days after the mass slaughter.
“Police, I hope your men are on alert to listen to information. How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals.
“Christopher (Chief of Defence Staff), thank you very much. I watched your comments. I know you can’t be tired of staying in the bush, including Oluyede (Chief of Army Staff) and the Air Marshal.
“Thanks to all of you, but we need to keep our ears to the ground. Let’s get those criminals, let’s get them out,” he said.
Tinubu also charged the heads of intelligence agencies to improve their surveillance and response systems.
“DG NIA and DG DSS, retool your information channels and let’s have tangible intelligence that this will not occur again,” the President said.
He urged Governor Alia to allocate land for ranching and directed the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to follow up.
He called for blood donations to support those receiving treatment at the Benue State Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where he had earlier visited victims and medical staff.
While underscoring the importance of peace for sustainable development, President Tinubu implored the Governor to ensure Benue was peaceful, adding that the circumstances of his visit this time should not have been a reason to visit.
“I wanted to come here to commission projects, to reassure you of hope and prosperity, not to see gloomy faces. But peace is vital to development,” he said.
“The value of human life is greater than that of a cow. We were elected to govern, not to bury people.
“Governor Alia, you were elected under the progressive banner to ensure peace, stability, and progress. You are not elected to bury people or comfort widows and orphans. We will work with you to achieve that peace. You must also work with us.
“Not everyone will like you in politics. They hate me, too — like hell. But here I am, still your President. I made a promise to protect democracy, freedom, and prosperity, even for my abusers and accusers. That’s leadership.”
Alia’s plea
In his remarks, Governor Alia appealed to the Federal Government to establish a Special Intervention Fund for communities affected by repeated violent attacks across Benue State.
“Your Excellency, while we continue to mourn our losses and rebuild from the ashes of pain, we humbly urge the Federal Government to consider establishing a special intervention fund for communities affected by these incessant attacks in Benue State,” he said.
Governor Alia said the fund would support the rehabilitation of displaced persons, reconstruction of destroyed homes and infrastructure, and the restoration of livelihoods, especially for farmers.
He reiterated his support for establishing state police as a lasting solution to insecurity, while pledging his administration’s full commitment to building a safe, stable, prosperous Benue State.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse, praised President Tinubu for being the first sitting President to personally visit victims in the hospital in the wake of such a tragedy.
On the recurring spate of insecurity in the state, the monarch took time to address misinformation and mischaracterisation, saying that land grabbing was at the core of the decades-long conflict.
“Your Excellency, it is not herder-farmer clashes. It is not communal clashes. It is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes.
“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,” the monarch told Tinubu.
He cautioned that mischaracterising the crisis had led to inadequate responses and accused some political actors of exploiting the situation for selfish gains.
“Politicians in the state are busy politicising the crisis, passing blames instead of joining hands to address the crisis. We hear that some politicians would even prefer that the crisis worsen, so it would serve as a basis for declaring a state of emergency.
“This is unfortunate. Any politician who prays for more people to die for such a project is working against the wishes of the people of Benue State,” he said.
He therefore appealed to President Tinubu to restore peace to the state and every part of Nigeria.
“All we ask of you, sir, is to stop our weeping. Give us peace in Benue State, so our people, primarily farmers, can return to their farms and continue to produce food for Nigeria.
“I heard a story about a challenge in a place in Kwara State, and you rose and gave them peace in Kaiama. You can do that for Benue.”
Killings condemned
Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum on Wednesday strongly condemned what it described as the persistent wave of killings and violence engulfing Benue State.
It described the situation as “genocide” and a direct consequence of government inaction, political complicity, and systemic collapse.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jiddere, the forum stated,
“The situation has degenerated into unrestrained bloodshed and lawlessness, turning communities into killing fields and exposing the utter collapse of governance, accountability, and security.
“Benue State, one of Nigeria’s critical agricultural hubs, plays a vital role in national food production, youth and women’s employment, and economic stability. Today, this once-thriving state is under siege.
“The lives of its innocent citizens are being violently cut short, and its socio-economic structure is being systematically destroyed, while the government stands by in silence, helplessness, or worse, complicity.”
It added, “In Guma and Logo local government areas, another 200 lives were wiped out. Thousands have been displaced into squalid, unsafe IDP camps with no access to healthcare, clean water, or basic necessities.
“Medical services are overstretched and collapsing. Women, children, and the elderly are dying in silence while the government looks away.
“Let it be clearly stated: this is not an ethnic conflict, as it is deceptively portrayed. It is an internal political crisis, one that has been allowed to fester due to criminal negligence, partisan interests, and a complete failure of leadership.”
Also, a religious group, the Concerned Christian Youth Forum, expressed concern over the recent spate of violence in Benue State, calling on authorities to strengthen efforts to restore peace and protect lives.
In a statement on Wednesday by its convener, James Adama, the group appealed to young people in the state to remain vigilant and play a role in safeguarding their communities, while urging leaders at all levels to take decisive steps toward enhancing security.
[The group said, “The systematic extermination of innocent civilians has reached a level that words cannot adequately describe.
“The suffering of the Benue people is a tragic reminder of our collective failure to protect them from those who seek to continue the rain of violence and chaos.
“We mourn with the families who have lost loved ones and call for urgent action to ensure peace and stability return to the affected areas.
“We stand in solidarity with you and are committed to working together to ensure that justice is served and that the perpetrators of these heinous acts are held accountable for their actions.”