President Bola Tinubu has told Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to prioritize peacebuilding, declaring that his mandate is to govern, not bury victims of violence.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Makurdi, Tinubu emphasized that the killings must stop.
“You were elected to bring peace, not to comfort widows and orphans,” he said. “The value of human life is greater than that of cattle.”
Tinubu urged the governor to form a peace committee and allocate land for ranching to resolve lingering conflicts.
He also called for blood donations to support the injured, whom he had earlier visited at Benue State Teaching Hospital.
Joined by governors from Imo, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa, Tinubu promised federal support for a peaceful and prosperous Benue.
Alia, in response, called for a special intervention fund to aid displaced communities.
Meanwhile, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, denounced the killings as a “planned genocidal invasion,” not herder-farmer clashes.
He urged Tinubu to take urgent action, saying misrepresenting the violence had hindered effective government response.
The president pledged commitment to restoring peace and addressing the crisis.
