MAKURDI, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has announced the formation of a peace committee aimed at addressing the ongoing violence in Benue State, following a series of deadly attacks that have left over 200 people dead in Yelewata and Daudu communities of Guma Local Government Area.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House banquet hall in Makurdi, where the president met with political and traditional leaders.
The newly formed peace committee will include traditional rulers such as the Tor Tiv, James Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma, among other key stakeholders.
Tinubu said the committee will later convene in Abuja to develop a strategic framework for achieving sustainable peace in the state.
“I want us to create this leadership committee now and then meet in Abuja to fashion out the nucleus for lasting peace, and I’m ready to invest in that peace,” Tinubu said.
“I want the traditional rulers, Tor Tiv and Och’Idoma, to be included in this peace committee.”
Assuring the gathering of his administration’s commitment, the president added, “By now, you may be bored of hearing my voice, but I give you the assurance, we will find peace; we will convert this tragedy to prosperity.”
Earlier in the meeting, President Tinubu criticised the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the inability of security operatives to apprehend those responsible for the recent killings.
He also directed the service chiefs, along with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), to intensify counter-terrorism efforts across the country, particularly in high-risk areas such as Benue.
The president’s visit to the state follows a surge of violence reportedly carried out by suspected herdsmen, which has displaced thousands and renewed public outcry over government handling of rural insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
The president’s remarks and the formation of the peace committee follow a series of statements by Benue traditional leaders, including the Tor Tiv, who described the crisis as a “calculated genocidal invasion” rather than mere farmer-herder clashes.
Community leaders and diaspora groups have similarly called for stronger action, rejecting calls for reconciliation that overlook the severity of the attacks.
The federal government has yet to provide a timeline for the committee’s inaugural meeting or specific steps to be taken, but Tinubu’s remarks signal a renewed push for dialogue and a coordinated approach involving traditional institutions and national security agencies.