MAKURDI, Nigeria — James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, has described the recent wave of killings in Benue State as a “calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion” by herder terrorists and armed bandits.
His comments came on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, during a stakeholders’ meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who visited the state to assess the security situation following the deadly attacks that claimed over 200 lives in the Yelewata and Daudu communities of Guma Local Government Area on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Addressing the president and security chiefs, the monarch rejected characterisations of the violence as a result of communal clashes or disputes between herders and farmers.
“Your excellency, it is not herder-farmers clashes, it is not communal clashes, it is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes,” Ayatse said.
“What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits, which has been going on for decades and is worsening every year.”
He criticised what he described as a persistent misrepresentation of the nature of the violence, arguing that such mischaracterisations have shaped flawed policy responses.
“It is this misinformation that has led to suggestions such as ‘remain tolerant, negotiate for peace, learn to live with your neighbours,’” he continued.
“Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment.”
Ayatse stressed that the conflict should not be viewed as a dispute to be managed, but as an active threat requiring robust security and political intervention.
“It is not learning to live with your neighbours; it is dealing with the war,” he said.
During his visit, President Tinubu met with survivors of the attacks who are receiving medical care and assured stakeholders that the federal government would take decisive action.
He directed security agencies to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Benue State, located in Nigeria’s north-central region, has long been a flashpoint for violent conflict involving armed herder groups and local farming communities.
The latest attacks have displaced thousands, with humanitarian agencies warning of a worsening crisis if security measures are not urgently reinforced.
