Makurdi, Nigeria – The Nigerian military has deployed air surveillance over Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, and its surrounding areas, following mass killings in the Yelwata and Daudu communities of Guma Local Government Area on Saturday.
Witnesses observed surveillance aircraft hovering over the capital and neighbouring areas such as Guma and Gwer West since Sunday morning. A military officer, who spoke anonymously, confirmed the air surveillance was initiated to monitor the situation and enable a swift response. “The residents should not panic, the military is on top of the situation,” the officer stated.
The deployment comes as the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, has announced that the national police force has taken over security operations in Benue State. Reports indicate that no fewer than 100 people were killed and many more injured when unidentified assailants attacked the communities on Saturday.
On Sunday, protesters gathered at Wurukum Roundabout in Makurdi, carrying leaves and appealing to the Federal Government to protect its citizens. Spokespersons Brahms Ikuan and Gideon Inyom lamented the “incessant killings” in the state, claiming authorities had failed to protect the populace. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd after they refused to allow Deputy Governor Sam Ode and Police Commissioner Emenari Ifeanyi to address them.
Police Commissioner Ifeanyi later told journalists, “The IG has taken over the security of Benue State. As I speak to you now, the IG has already sent Special Forces who are already on the ground and more are coming.” He added that these intelligence-led forces would target the perpetrators, with initial deployments already made to Naka, Apa, Agatu, Daudu, and Yelwata. “We are in control of the situation, so I’m assuring all citizens of the state that we are in control,” Ifeanyi affirmed, noting that all security agencies are united and some arrests have been made. He also stated that Governor Hyacinth Alia has provided necessary support and logistics to security operatives.
Ifeanyi attributed Saturday’s attack in Yelwata to the displacement of criminals from other troubled areas like Apa and Gwer West, where police deployments had increased. “They just want to do something to show that they are in control while they are not and will never be,” he said. He urged patience from residents, promising results from ongoing intelligence-led operations.
Presidential Directive and Condemnations
Following the President’s directive, intelligence chiefs, police, and military personnel have arrived in Benue State to coordinate security operations. President Bola Tinubu has also urged Governor Alia to convene reconciliation meetings and dialogue among the warring parties to end the bloodshed.
“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,” said Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. The President described the killings as “inhuman and anti-progress,” calling on political and community leaders to avoid inflammatory statements that could escalate tensions.
“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,” President Tinubu stated. He directed security agencies to “act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.”
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi also condemned the attacks, describing the mass killings of women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons as a “national tragedy” demanding urgent action. “This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership. Every life lost is a Nigerian life, each one precious, each one irreplaceable,” Obi posted on X, urging all levels of government to fulfil their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
Pope Leo Prays for Victims
Pope Leo has offered prayers for the victims of what he described as a “terrible massacre” in Benue State, where approximately 200 people were reportedly killed. Delivering his remarks before the Sunday Angelus prayer, the Pope noted the particular devastation as most victims were internally displaced persons sheltered by a local Catholic mission in Yelwata.
“On the night of the 13th/14th June, in the town of Yelwata in the Guma Local Government Area in Benue State in Nigeria, a terrible massacre occurred in which around 200 people were killed with extreme cruelty. Most of whom were internally displaced persons hosted by the local catholic mission,” the pontiff stated. He prayed for security, justice, and peace in Nigeria and highlighted the vulnerability of rural Christian communities in Benue who have been “unceasingly the victims of violence.” Pope Leo also remembered victims of ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and the Middle East during his address.
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