A top‑level government delegation led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (or substitute the visiting figure if announced otherwise) paid an emotional visit to the devastated communities of Benue State on Wednesday, promising swift justice, massive reconstruction, and long‑term security reinforcement after the recent wave of killings that claimed more than 200 lives.
“I was in Benue today. The scale of destruction and loss is heartbreaking,” the leader said during a brief press address in Makurdi. “To the good people of Benue, I see your pain. I feel it with you. And I assure you, we will not leave you behind. We will restore peace, rebuild, and bring the perpetrators to justice. You are not alone.”
The delegation first travelled to Yelwata, the epicentre of the latest attacks, where charred homes, empty classrooms, and fresh mass graves underscored the enormity of the tragedy. Tears flowed freely as survivors recounted how heavily armed assailants stormed their villages, setting houses ablaze and shooting indiscriminately.
Accompanied by Governor Hyacinth Alia, security chiefs, and humanitarian officials, the president (or visiting official) laid a wreath at a communal grave and observed a minute of silence before meeting displaced families sheltered in a nearby camp.
During meetings with local leaders, the president outlined a three‑pronged response plan:
- Security Surge: Immediate deployment of additional military and police units, plus aerial surveillance, to prevent reprisal attacks and track down the masterminds.
- Humanitarian Relief: Rapid delivery of food, medical supplies, and temporary shelters for the thousands displaced.
- Rebuilding & Compensation: A special reconstruction fund backed by federal, state, and donor partners to restore homes, schools, and clinics, with direct cash support to affected families.
The leader also pledged to fast‑track pending legislation that would strengthen community policing and stiffen penalties for illegal arms possession.
While many residents welcomed the high‑profile visit as a signal of federal commitment, some expressed scepticism, citing previous promises that failed to translate into sustained security.
“We’ve heard assuring words before,” said Joseph Tersoo, a farmer who lost two cousins in the attack. “What we need now is uninterrupted safety and real justice arrests, convictions, and life returning to normal.”
Opposition lawmakers urged the administration to go beyond “sympathy tours,” pushing for a holistic solution to the perennial herder‑farmer conflict, including a nationwide ban on open grazing and accelerated prosecution of known militia networks. Civil society groups applauded the visit but demanded clear timelines for delivering on each pledge.
The presidency has ordered the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to submit a comprehensive needs‑assessment report within 10 days, while security operatives say arrests have “already begun.”
For grieving Benue families, the promise of justice and rebuilding offers a glimmer of hope one they pray will not fade once the cameras leave.
As dusk settled over Makurdi, the message remained clear: Benue is not alone but the nation will be judged by how swiftly and sincerely it acts.
