President Tinubu appoints ex-Govs, others into peace committee for Benue after deadly attack

President Tinubu appoints ex-Govs, others into peace committee for Benue after deadly attack

In response to the devastating attack that claimed scores of lives in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, President Bola Tinubu has established a high-powered peace committee to chart a path toward lasting peace and stability in the state.

The move follows the deadly raid last Friday, June 13, where suspected armed herders stormed the village, killing at least 100 residents though some reports put the death toll as high as 200.

The assailants reportedly set homes ablaze and shot indiscriminately, leaving dozens missing and hundreds injured. Many of the victims were internally displaced persons who had sought refuge in the community.

At a town hall meeting held Wednesday at the Benue State Government House banquet hall in Makurdi, Tinubu announced the formation of the committee.

Its members include prominent Benue figures such as former Military Governor Gen. Atom Kpera (retd.), Senator George Akume, Senator Gabriel Suswam, and former Governor Samuel Ortom. Traditional leaders—the Tor Tiv, HRM Prof. James Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma, HRM Dr. John Elaigwu—will also play central roles in the peace-building initiative.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; governors of Kwara, Kogi, Imo, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa states; and other key stakeholders.

President Tinubu urged Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to lead the peace initiative and ensure broad representation, including non-indigenes living in the state.

“We must not let this tragedy define us. Let us reconvene in Abuja and develop a framework for sustainable peace. I am ready to invest in that peace. I assure you, we will find peace, and we will turn this tragedy into prosperity,” Tinubu declared.

Emphasising the need for regional cooperation, Tinubu called for collaboration between Benue and neighbouring Nasarawa State to prevent further violence and promote shared development.

“To the traditional rulers—the Tor Tiv, the Och’Idoma—and to all communities, I say: we are here to govern, not to bury; to raise families, not to mourn them,” he said.

He also urged communities to rally behind Governor Alia and embrace inclusive governance, especially at this critical time.

While security agencies have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, local residents remain fearful of further violence, particularly as the rainy season—a period often marked by tension over grazing and farming land—intensifies.

President Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting Benue and ending the cycle of violence. “You have my word: peace will come. And we will build from this tragedy a stronger, more united Benue,” he concluded.