*Tinubu assures, says he’ll work with Gov Alia to ensure restoration of peace
*Describes attackers as criminals directing security agencies to fish them out
*Remarks that Gov Alia wasn’t elected to bury people, create orphans or sympathise with widows
*Killings genocide, not dispute, Tor Tiv tells Tinubu
By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi with agency report
As condemnations continue to trail the recent massacre in Yelewata community in Benue State during which over 100 people were killed, President Bola Tinubu has assured that he will work with the state Governor, Hyacinth Alia to bring peace in the state.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with political and traditional leaders in Makurdi yesterday, Tinubu said Alia was not elected to preside over the tragedy.
The President who visited Benue following a wave of deadly attacks in the state where armed herdsmen reportedly killed over100 people said “You’re elected under the progressive banner to ensure there’s peace, stability, and progress so that we can come and commission projects, rejoice with you on progress, value, and things of joy.”
“You are not elected to bury people, create orphans and orphanages, or sympathise with widows. We will work with you to achieve that peace”, he added.
The President also took a swipe at Alia’s political adversaries saying “Your political enemies don’t want you to succeed,” the president said, adding, “are you just realising that?”
He said he takes feedback from public commentary seriously and learns from his critics.
“No matter what I do, they will insult me. I read the papers, and I learn from their criticism because I can’t see it all,” he said.
He called on leaders across the north-central state to work together to end the violence and rebuild trust among communities.
It would be recalled that on Tuesday, leaders of Benue communities in the Diaspora rejected Tinubu’s call for reconciliation amid ongoing violence in the state, insisting that the attacks amount to terrorism rather than communal conflict.
In an open letter to the President, the Diaspora group said the call by the president for reconciliation meetings between “warring parties” was “misplaced”.
Speaking further, the President directed the security chief to arrest perpetrators of last Friday’s massacre in Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
“Christopher… We need to get our ears to the ground. Let’s get those criminals. Let’s get them out,” Tinubu told the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, during a town hall meeting with political leaders in Benue State.
Tinubu is visiting Benue, a hotbed of recent killings by armed herdsmen that claimed at least 100 lives.
The President had earlier visited persons recovering from last Friday’s attack by armed herders at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.
He was received by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and the host Governor, Hyacinth Alia.
In a related development, the Tor Tiv V, James Ayatse, has told President Bola Tinubu that the killings in Benue State are not clashes between herders and farmers, but a planned attack aimed at taking over land.
Speaking at a meeting with Tinubu and stakeholders in Benue yesterday, the traditional ruler said many people had misunderstood the crisis and wrongly advised Benue citizens to stay calm and live peacefully with their neighbours.
Ayatse said, “We do have grave concerns about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue State.
“Your Excellency, it’s not herders-farmers clashes, it’s not communal clashes, it’s not reprisal attacks or skirmishes.”
He described the violence as a “calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign” by herder terrorists and bandits that has lasted for decades.
He added, “Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment… We are dealing with something far more sinister than we think. It’s not about learning to live with your neighbours; it is dealing with a war.”
End
