Makurdi, Benue State | June 19, 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerians, especially communities in conflict-prone areas, to embrace tolerance, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence in order to end the cycle of violence and bloodshed that has plagued parts of the country, particularly Benue State.
Speaking during his visit to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi on Tuesday, where he met with victims of recent attacks, President Tinubu lamented the continued loss of lives due to communal and farmer-herder clashes. He emphasised the need for citizens to move beyond ethnic and religious divisions and instead focus on building a nation where every Nigerian feels safe and respected.
“We must learn how to share, how to accommodate each other, and how to live together peacefully,” the President said. “It is our duty to protect human life at all costs. No development, no investment, no future can thrive in an atmosphere of violence and hatred.”
The President’s visit comes days after several communities in Benue were rocked by fresh attacks believed to have been carried out by armed herders, leaving many dead, others injured, and thousands displaced. Tinubu described the incidents as deeply painful and unacceptable, reiterating the government’s commitment to strengthening security, supporting victims, and addressing the root causes of the conflict.
While consoling those affected, Tinubu assured that his administration would ensure justice for the victims and deploy a comprehensive plan to restore peace in the troubled areas. “I am not here for politics. I am here as your President, your brother, your father. What matters to me is peace, and I will do everything within my power to guarantee it,” he added.
The President was accompanied by top government officials and security chiefs who assessed the security situation in the state. His presence was seen as a morale booster for residents who have endured repeated displacement, loss of livelihoods, and trauma.
In reaction to the visit, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, lauded the President’s show of empathy and used the occasion to call for the establishment of state police and the creation of a federal intervention fund to support victims and rebuild devastated communities.
President Tinubu also met with traditional rulers and stakeholders, urging them to preach peace and discourage the spread of hate rhetoric. He concluded his visit by promising that the Federal Government would partner closely with Benue State to ensure lasting peace and development in the region.
