By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
“WE WILL find you. We will expose you. And we will deal with you with the full force of the law.” With those words, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia delivered a stark warning to the terrorists behind one of the deadliest massacres in the state’s recent history.
Addressing the state in the wake of the Yelewata massacre, where over 200 people were killed by gunmen disguised as herders, the governor vowed that Benue would never surrender its land.
Entire households have been reportedly wiped out overnight in Guma Local Government Area, while two days earlier, another 25 people were killed in coordinated attacks on Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa in Makurdi LGA.
Declaring that the state would no longer wait to be attacked before responding, Governor Alia announced a renewed crackdown.
“We will take the war to the doorsteps of those who bring war to us,” he said.
Also, with support from President Bola Tinubu, he declared that the state is resuming full enforcement of the Anti-Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law, which bans open grazing across Benue.
Violators, he warned, would face direct consequences.
Security agencies have been instructed to reinforce surveillance and protection in all vulnerable border communities.
Tactical units from the military and police are being deployed, while the government strengthens joint operations and revives local intelligence networks to disrupt future attacks.
The governor also confirmed that he had formally requested an immediate one-on-one audience with President Tinubu.
The purpose, he said, was not only to express the state’s grief but to press for urgent federal action to end the sustained bloodshed.
“Benue has carried this burden for far too long,” he stated.
At the heart of the address was a firm call for unity. “We are not APC or PDP… We are Benue people under attack,” the governor said, dissolving political and ethnic divides in favour of a unified response.
Moreover, an emergency high-level meeting has been summoned in Makurdi, to be attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, all National Assembly members from Benue, local leaders, traditional rulers, religious heads, and security chiefs.
Governor Alia tasked the State Emergency Management Agency with relocating displaced residents to the Makurdi International Market and ensuring their access to essential supplies. All relevant agencies are on standby to support the effort.
To the state’s youth, whose protests and social media outcry have drawn attention to the killings, the governor said he had heard their voices.
“Continue to be alert, not lawless. Be courageous, but coordinated,” he advised, urging vigilance without taking the law into their hands.
Already, condolences were extended to the families of the two soldiers and a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer killed in the Yelewata attack.
A new state-backed life insurance scheme will also cover all security personnel wounded or killed in duty, retroactively effective from 29 May 2023, according to the Governor.
Governor Alia closed with a defiant call to resilience. “We are Benue. We are not broken. We are rising.”
TEXT OF BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY, REV. FR. DR. HYACINTH IORMEM ALIA, GOVERNOR OF BENUE STATE, ON THE YELEWATA MASSACRE AND ONGOING SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE STATE.
My beloved people of Benue,
2. I address you this morning with a heart weighed down by grief, but strengthened by duty.
3. Last night, terror descended on Yelewata, in Guma Local Government Area, where over two hundred of our brothers and sisters were brutally murdered by terrorists masquerading as herders. Entire families were wiped out. Children, women, and elders, slaughtered and burnt in the shelter of their homes. Two days ago, two communities – Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa in Makurdi LGA were attacked and 25 people killed. This is evil in its purest form — and I condemn it with every fiber of my being.
4. Let this be clear: this was not an isolated incident. Our people have endured too many massacres — in Ukum, Logo, Katsina-Ala, Kwande, Agatu, Otukpo, Apa, Gwer West, Gwer East, and elsewhere. These killings are not just numbers. These are our people — people with names, dreams, and families.
5. This government will no longer speak in cautious tones or diplomatic restraint.
6. To every grieving family, I say: I see you. I feel your pain. And I will not let this pass as just another tragedy.
7. This morning, I have formally reached out to request an immediate one-on-one audience with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I intend to meet with him personally — not just to convey our sorrow, but to demand clear and decisive federal action. Benue has carried this burden for far too long.
8. I have also directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to coordinate the temporary relocation and settlement of the displaced persons at the Makurdi International Market premises and provide for their basic needs. All relevant government agencies should be on standby to support SEMA whenever they are called upon.
9. To forge a new path going forward, I have also summoned an emergency high-level meeting to hold here in Makurdi. Invited are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, all serving Members of the National Assembly from Benue State, leaders of the State House of Assembly, Local Government Chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and security chiefs resident in the state will also be in attendance.
10. I hereby declare that all political differences in Benue State have collapsed — and on my honour, I shall do everything humanly possible to make sure our differences and reconciled.
11. We are not APC or PDP. We are not Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Etulo, Abakpa, Jukun, Akweya, Nyifon or Igbo. We are Benue people under attack, and we must respond as one big family.
12. I want to speak directly now to those responsible for these attacks and to those who finance them, protect them, or remain silent in the face of their evil: we will find you. We will expose you. And we will deal with you with the full force of the law. We will never surrender our land to you, and our priceless lush land that you desire will never be yours — never! Ever! It will never happen.
13. We will no longer wait to be killed before reacting. We will take the war to the doorsteps of those who bring war to us. With the support of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we will resume full implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law. All herders with animals grazing freely on any inch of Benue land are hereby advised to comply or face the consequences.Investment opportunities
14. I have directed immediate reinforcement of security in our border communities. Tactical units from the military and police are being deployed. The Benue State Government is also working to strengthen joint operations and support local intelligence networks.
15. But beyond force, we are building unity. The call now is for community vigilance, intelligence sharing, and neighborly solidarity. Our enemies thrive when we are divided. They fall when we stand together.
16. To our youths, I say thank you for raising your voice. I have seen your handwritings and videos on social media. I have not been asleep, but I am reinvigorated by your admonitions. Continue to be alert, not lawless. Be courageous, but coordinated. Do not take laws into your hands, but never again let our communities be taken by surprise.
17. To every citizen: mourn, but also rise. Cry, but never give-up. We shall overcome.
18. To the men and women of the security agencies helping us fight these terrorists, I also say thank you. I extend my condolences to the families of the two soldiers and NSCDC officer that were killed during the Yelewata Massacre. The Benue State Government has set up a life insurance package that will carter for any of you who is wounded, or brought down in the line of duty. Your family will never be left alone. This insurance package will retrospectively take effect from 29th of May 2023.
19. Today, I send a message not of fear, but of defiance.
20. We are Benue. We are not broken. We are rising.
21. May God comfort us all in this grieving moment, strengthen our security agents, and defend our land.
22. Thank you.
23. God bless Benue State.
24. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
