Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment, Tor Tiv warns

President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Benue State yesterday drew criticism from various stakeholders, who argued that his assessment of last weekend’s massacre, which claimed nearly 200 lives, failed to address the core issues at hand. They also faulted the state’s handling of the trip, condemning what they described as insensitive political gestures in the aftermath of a devastating humanitarian tragedy.

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) faulted Tinubu for what it termed a “disturbingly casual” response to the ongoing violence and displacement plaguing the North Central region. The group also accused the President of ignoring what it said was an “ethnic cleansing campaign” allegedly carried out by Fulani militias.

Reacting to Tinubu’s comments, where he reportedly described the violence as “a land-grabbing” conflict, the MBF asserted that the President’s remarks trivialised the scale of bloodshed and dangerously misrepresented the situation.

The President had called for unity and a collective approach to resolving the conflict, urging all stakeholders to address land disputes and embrace tolerance. “If it’s about land grabbing, we must learn to share and accommodate each other. We have enough land to feed our children, cultivate happiness, and build prosperity,” he said.

In a telephone interview with The Guardian, the Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Luka Binniyat Diminnayat, rejected Tinubu’s characterisation of the conflict as merely “herders-farmers clashes,” calling it “an old, worn-out narrative meant to cover up a genocidal agenda.”

“It is unfortunate that Mr President reduced our tragedy to a ‘grabbing fight’,” Diminnayat said. “He failed to acknowledge the brutal truth—that Fulani armed militias are on a calculated mission to wipe out indigenous ethnic nationalities and take over their ancestral lands.”

According to the Forum, this is not conjecture, but a reality borne out daily in blood and tears. “We in the Middle Belt have always maintained that what is going on is not mere conflict; it is a well-planned, systematic campaign of violence and displacement,” Diminnayat declared. “We are being eliminated from our lands by armed Fulani militias, and we are not afraid to call them by name.”

He cited chilling examples: In Benue, entire swathes of rural communities in Gwer West Local Council have been sacked. “Most farmers have either fled or can no longer access their farmlands. This is the reality not just in Gwer West, but across Tiv and Idoma territories,” he said.

The story, he added, is no different in Southern Kaduna. “Over 300 communities in six local councils have been forcibly occupied by Fulani herdsmen. The size of land under their control is no less than 6,000 square kilometres, larger than Abia and Lagos States combined. These are now ungoverned territories.”

Diminnayat didn’t mince words: “What we are witnessing is not random violence; it is a jihad. A renaissance of the Fulani jihad. And it is spreading. The Hausa people too, despite their Muslim identity, are under siege by these same elements.”

He warned that thousands of terrorists have now infiltrated the Middle Belt, especially targeting Christian communities. “We are facing a double tragedy: terror from Fulani militia and neglect from the Nigerian government.”

While acknowledging that President Tinubu started on a seemingly promising note, Diminnayat said hopes quickly faded as it became clear that Nigeria’s security architecture had been “monopolised” by one ethnic group.

“How do you explain it? The National Security Adviser is Fulani, his assistant is Fulani, the Minister of Defence is Fulani, the Minister of State for Defence is Fulani. Is that the only ethnic group that can secure Nigeria?” he asked, visibly agitated.

He dismissed claims that the Chief of Defence Staff, who hails from Zangon Kataf in Southern Kaduna, proves ethnic inclusion. “When real decisions are made—like the senseless amnesty for mass murderers—they come from the NSA’s office. These are not decisions the service chiefs take on their own. They all report to the NSA.”

According to the MBF, the President cannot claim ignorance of available solutions. “We have suggested community-based volunteer forces. We have millions of able-bodied youths ready to be trained, even with locally made arms, by retired and active security officers. But why is Mr President ignoring this advice?”

Diminnayat said the region is losing patience. “If the President cannot act decisively now, what hope is there for the rest of the country when this carnage spreads? If Fulani militias get away with what they’re doing in the Middle Belt, what then is the fate of Nigeria?”

The MBF’s message is clear: President Tinubu must urgently overhaul the country’s security structure to reflect Nigeria’s diversity and confront the truth about the crisis in the North Central. Anything short of that, the Forum insists, will be seen as complicity.

“We don’t want rhetoric anymore,” Diminnayat said. “We want action. We want justice. And above all, we want our people to live in peace on their own land.”

Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment, Tor Tiv warns
The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ortese Ayatse, called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritise peace and security in Benue State and across Nigeria, describing the ongoing violence as a “genocidal invasion” rather than a herder-farmer clash.

Speaking during the President’s visit to Benue State, Ayatse warned that “a wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment. This is not about learning to live with a neighbour; it is a war,” he said.

The traditional ruler lamented the politicisation of the crisis, accusing some politicians of exploiting the violence for political gain. “Any politician praying for more people to die for such a project is against the wishes of the people of Benue State,” he said.

Highlighting Benue’s sacrifices for Nigeria, including contributions during the Civil War, Ayatse questioned why the state continues to suffer. “What has Benue State done to merit this treatment? This massacre is just one in a series of several. We appeal to you to end the genocide in Benue and address insecurity across Nigeria,” he said.

Ayatse commended Tinubu’s decisive actions on subsidy removal and exchange rate reforms and urged the President to apply the same resolve to securing peace. “You can give us peace in Benue. Stop our weeping. Let our people return to their farms and continue producing food for Nigeria,” he said, noting that Benue remains the nation’s food basket.

The Tor Tiv also appealed for peace in Nasarawa State, where many Tiv people have been displaced from their ancestral lands. “These are people who have lived in Nasarawa since before the 18th century. They cannot be considered settlers. I appeal to you to ensure their peace as well,” he added.

The monarch emphasised that lasting peace is essential for the stability and progress of Benue and the entire country. “All we ask is for peace to rebuild our lives and communities,” he concluded.

SIMILARLY, while speaking with The Guardian on the telephone, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said: “It is obvious that a particular ethnic group is bent on overrunning this country for reasons best known to God. The government must demonstrate the political will to stop this menace.”

Ajayi added: “The President’s visit is commendable, but it must not stop at expressing sympathy or issuing routine directives to security agencies.”

The spokesperson noted that security directives must be followed by effective execution, stressing that similar promises in the past have failed to produce lasting solutions. He urged the Tinubu administration to restore public confidence through visible and sustained security operations in vulnerable communities.

In the same vein, the Yoruba Oodua Union (YOU) criticised President Tinubu for what it described as his “casual approach” to the killings, accusing him of trivialising the crisis that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced communities.

YOU founding member, Sam Agbetuyi, warned that the violence in Benue and other Middle Belt states may soon spread to other parts of the country, particularly the Southwest, which he described as the “next target.”

“The President has not shown the seriousness or political will to address this crisis decisively,” Agbetuyi said. “If he was serious, he would have by now endorsed the creation of state police to empower governors to defend their people.”

He warned that the worsening security situation may eventually push each region towards self-defence, given the federal government’s inability to guarantee protection.

Tinubu commits to protecting all Nigerians, laments lack of arrests after massacre
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his commitment to protecting all Nigerians, including his critics and detractors, while emphasising the sanctity of human life over cattle. He made the remarks yesterday during a condolence visit to Benue State, five days after over 200 people were killed in Yelwata.

Addressing the grieving community, Tinubu stressed the importance of peace for progress and pledged to support Governor Hyacinth Alia in ensuring stability and development in the state. “The governor was not elected to bury people or sympathise with widows but to deliver progress and stability,” the President said.

Acknowledging the challenges of leadership, Tinubu remarked: “Not everybody will like you in politics. They hate me like hell too, but I am here. I am the President, and under a democratic regime, I made a promise to protect my accusers and abusers to uphold democracy. Abuse me all you want; I am committed to ensuring peace for the people of Benue.”

The President called for unity and a collective approach to resolving the conflict, urging all stakeholders to address land disputes and embrace tolerance. “If it’s about land grabbing, we must learn to share and accommodate each other. We have enough land to feed our children, cultivate happiness, and build prosperity,” he said.

Tinubu proposed setting up a committee of elders, including past governors of the state, to explore lasting solutions. He also suggested the establishment of a ranch to address herder-farmer clashes and promote economic development.

Appealing for collaboration, Tinubu stated, “We are members of the same family, living in the same house but sleeping in different rooms. We must fight our enemies together, not each other. We can turn this tragedy into an opportunity for prosperity.”

The President lamented the lack of arrests following the Yelwata killings and called on law enforcement to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators. “I expect there should be arrests of those criminals. We need to keep our ears to the ground and get them out,” he said.

Tinubu assured the people of Benue of his administration’s readiness to invest in peace and prosperity, urging them to support the governor’s efforts during this critical period. “We are here to govern, not to bury. We are here to raise families, not to lose them,” he concluded.

NASEMA: Over 3,000 IDPs in Nasarawa camps after Yelwata massacre
The Director-General of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), Benjamin Akwas, has disclosed that over 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are currently housed in four camps across Nasarawa State following the massacre of over 200 people in Yelwata, a border town between Benue and Nasarawa States.

Speaking in Lafia, Akwas confirmed that the IDPs are spread across camps in Kadarko, Agyaragu, Idadu, and Kpata. He revealed that 462 IDPs are sheltering in Idadu and 521 in Kpata, both in Doma Local Council, while over 1,800 are taking refuge at St John Primary School, Agyaragu, in Lafia Local Council. An additional 40 IDPs are in Kadarko, Keana Local Council.

Akwas stated that the agency had distributed food and non-food items to over 1,000 Tiv farmers at the Kadarko camp a day before the Yelwata attack. He added, “The agency is currently conducting a headcount of IDPs to finalise plans for reaching out to displaced residents in the four camps following Saturday’s attack on Yelwata.” He acknowledged a surge in displaced persons since the attack and urged them to remain calm.

An on-ground assessment revealed that women and children dominate the camps, with many lacking food, healthcare, and proper sleeping materials. Most IDPs are forced to sleep on bare floors.

At the Agyaragu camp, Evelyn Iyohem lamented, “We need urgent attention from the government and compassionate Nigerians because we left everything behind due to the deadly attack on our people at Yelwata.”

Another displaced person, Jonathan Hembe, decried the poor sanitary conditions and food scarcity. Others complained about sleepless nights caused by mosquito bites, as they are housed in open halls.

Forum’s youth leader decries killing of 111,000 in region since January
The National Youth Leader of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Comrade Brent Kane, has disclosed that about 111,000 persons have been killed by unknown militias in the Middle Belt from January to date.

Speaking yesterday in Jos during a press briefing jointly organised by the Middle Belt Youth Forum and the Pan Niger Delta Youth Forum (PANDEF), Kane lamented that the casualty figures in Benue State alone are staggering and cannot be quantified.

He criticised the political elite in the region, particularly in Benue State, for failing to stand with the people, accusing them of aligning with those in power rather than protecting their constituents. Kane warned that if such betrayals persist, moves to recall these leaders would be initiated.

He described the ongoing attacks as “an escalating tragedy of engineered genocide and marginalisation of the people,” adding, “Our ancestral lands are under brutal attack, and our very future hangs in the balance. Regrettably, instead of receiving empathy and decisive action from the government against these terrorists, we are witnessing the implementation of policies and programmes that will further exacerbate the suffering of the Middle Belt, unleashing even greater cruelty.”

Kane called on the government to take immediate and decisive action to halt the killings, emphasising that failure to address the situation would have catastrophic consequences for both the Middle Belt and the Southern region, particularly the Niger Delta.

He categorically rejected the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP), labelling it a rebranded version of the controversial RUGA initiative. According to Kane, the programme is “unacceptable,” rooted in “ethnic domination and territorial conquest,” and was conceived without adequate consultation with critical Middle Belt stakeholders.

Kane further demanded the immediate return of occupied lands to their rightful owners and the prosecution of Fulani warlords and their sponsors. He also warned traditional rulers against signing documents that facilitate Fulani settlements, stressing that such actions would attract grave consequences.

“We challenge our political elites to stand with the people or step aside. The Middle Belt is not for sale. We will no longer tolerate genocide against our people,” Kane said, adding that the youth would pursue all lawful means, including international legal action and mass resistance, to defend their land and future.

In his remarks, PANDEF National Youth Leader Donben Donyegha urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise security and engage with the people, warning that certain elites might seek to destabilise his administration.

Outrage as billboards thank Tinubu over condolence, pupils stand in rain for convoy
Public outrage has erupted online following the circulation of a viral video showing billboards across Benue State thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his condolences, just days after over 200 people were killed in a brutal attack in Yelwata.

The footage, captured by a distraught citizen and widely shared on social media, displayed multiple banners bearing the message: “Mr. President, ‘Thank you for condolence with the Benue State people.” Set along a dimly lit, deserted road, the banners have drawn fierce criticism, with many condemning them as an insensitive political gesture in the wake of a humanitarian tragedy.

The video began with a close-up of one of the billboards, illuminated against the night. The narrator, his voice heavy with disbelief and emotion, questioned the rationale behind such a display. “What level of madness is this?” he asked, panning the camera to reveal more banners.

The narrator expressed outrage over what he described as a focus on public relations rather than mourning the lives lost. “People died, and you’re busy,” he said, accusing officials of turning a tragedy into a political campaign. His commentary culminated in an emotional outburst: “Oh God!”—a sentiment echoed by many Nigerians who criticised the perceived government insensitivity.

The controversy deepened as videos surfaced online showing schoolchildren standing in the rain to welcome President Tinubu’s convoy during his visit to Benue State. Despite the state government declaring a public holiday in honour of the President’s visit, the children were seen singing the Nigerian anthem on the roadside as the motorcade passed through Makurdi.

The blurred faces of the children in the videos sparked widespread backlash, particularly on the social media platform X. ‘Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, described the act as a “crime”, urging intervention. “This is a crime!!!! Is there no one in Benue that can go and get those children? A Bishop; an Imam? Parents? National Human Rights Commission??? What is wrong with us??” she wrote.

Another user, Joseph Anyaa, criticised the government, stating, “I’ve never seen a government this useless,” while another, Latent, described the act as “political wickedness”.

Northern Elders Forum condemns violence in Benue, describes killings as genocide
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence in Benue State, labelling the killings as “genocide” and attributing the crisis to government inaction, political complicity, and systemic collapse.

In a statement released yesterday by its spokesperson, Prof Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the Forum highlighted the alarming human toll, with over 150 people killed in Yelwata and an additional 200 lives lost in Guma and Logo local councils. Thousands of displaced persons now live in unsafe IDP camps with no access to basic amenities such as healthcare, clean water, or food.

NEF rejected narratives framing the crisis as ethnic conflict, calling it a politically driven issue exacerbated by negligence and vested interests. The Forum warned that allowing such narratives to persist risks emboldening perpetrators and worsening instability.

“Benue State, a critical agricultural hub vital for national food production and economic stability, is under siege. Innocent citizens are being violently killed, and the state’s socio-economic fabric is being systematically destroyed while the government remains silent or complicit,” the statement read.

The Forum demanded decisive government action, including deploying elite security forces to restore order, launching an independent investigation into the violence, prosecuting perpetrators, compensating victims, and overhauling the national security framework.

Malami seeks urgent govt action after Zuru attack ‘claims nearly 200 lives’
Former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has described the recent attack in Zuru, Kebbi State, which claimed nearly 200 lives, as “grievous and barbaric.”

In a statement issued yesterday through his media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a “national catastrophe.”

“The tragic loss of nearly 200 innocent lives is a painful scar on our collective conscience and a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive security and development across our communities,” Malami said.

Offering condolences to the victims’ families, he added, “May Almighty Allah grant them Jannatul Firdaus and comfort those left behind with strength and healing.”

Malami decried the infrastructure in Zuru and neighbouring local councils—Dankowasagu, Fakai, Sakaba, and Zuru—highlighting poor roads, inadequate healthcare facilities, underfunded schools, and fragile security systems. He called the situation unacceptable in modern-day Nigeria.

“This attack is not just a tragedy for Zuru or Kebbi State; it is a national catastrophe that demands swift and decisive action,” he stated, urging both the state and federal governments to take immediate steps to protect lives and property.

Malami reiterated the government’s primary responsibility for the security and welfare of its citizens, stressing that this duty must not be neglected.