President Bola Tinubu has issued a firm directive to Nigeria’s security chiefs, instructing them to implement his earlier orders to restore peace and order in areas affected by violence, with a particular emphasis on Benue State.
Tinubu also tasked the governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, with the urgent responsibility of convening reconciliation meetings among the conflicting groups within the state.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, President Tinubu called on Governor Alia to urgently initiate dialogue between warring parties, including farmers, herders, and local communities.
“The purpose of this is to end the cycle of violence and foster peaceful coexistence,” he said.
Describing the killings as “inhuman and anti-progress,” the President urged political and community leaders to refrain from making unguarded statements that could inflame tensions further.
He also warned against any provocative actions that could escalate the violence.
“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,” he said.
“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. Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings,” he added.
In addition, the President emphasised the need for a collective and united approach to peacebuilding, calling on Governor Alia to lead a process of dialogue and reconciliation.
“This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue. Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony and differences are identified and addressed with fairness, openness, and justice,” the statement concluded.
