Benue Killing: Tinubu Summons Governor Alia To Abuja, Unveils Peace building Plans

President Bola Tinubu has summoned Governor Hyacinth Alia to Abuja for further discussion on how to end the bloodbath in Benue State.

Tinubu addressed expanded town meeting in. Government House Makurdi on Wednesday almost 72hours after Pope Francis described the killing of 200 people in Yelewatu village in Guma LGA of Benue State late Friday, June 13 as ‘terrible massacre’.

His words: “Let us meet again in Abuja. Let’s fashion out a framework for lasting peace. I am ready to invest in that peace. I assure you, we will find peace. We will convert this tragedy into prosperity.” He added

Advising the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, on the importance of stakeholder management for peaceful and progressive governance, the President urged the governor to champion the activities of the peace committee, which also includes federal officials, and non-indigenes living in the state.

Tinubu stated that the peace effort would yield sustainable results only if it were broad-based and collaborative, calling for synergy with neighbouring Nasarawa State, whose governor, Abdullahi Sule, was also present at the meeting.

He assured the state of the Federal Government’s backing and his personal resolve to end the cycle of bloodshed, saying, “I give you the assurance that we will find peace, we will convert this tragedy to prosperity again and again.”

Suspected armed herders stormed Yelewata village in Guma LGA of Benue State late Friday, June 13, unleashing one of the deadliest assaults the state has seen in years.

At Wednesday’s town hall meeting, Tinubu directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to immediately arrest those who perpetrated the heinous killings.

“I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals. Let’s get those criminals,” Tinubu told the IGP.