By AMOS MATHEW, Kaduna –
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on security agencies to do all they can to stop further killings by suspected armed herders in Yelwata community of Benue State.
Barely a fortnight ago, suspected herders invaded Yelwata community, leading to gruesome murder of scores of residents, and injuries to many others.
ACF in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, condoled members of Yelwata Community, the Government and people of Benue State and Nigeria as a whole.
The Forum prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead, commiserated with the injured ones, wishing them quick recovery.
“The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is greatly disturbed by the resurgence of yet another tragic episode of violence, leading to the gruesome death of scores persons, and injuries to many including women, children and the elderly, in Yelwata Community, on Friday, 13th June, 2025. ACF condoles the members of the Yelwata Community, the Government and people of Benue State and indeed Nigeria as a whole.We pray for the repose of the souls of the dead, commiserate with the injured and wish them quick recovery.
“ACF categorically and unequivocally condemns the senseless killings that continues to escalate for far too long, every time with tragic consequences, and potent threats to the shared destiny in Arewa and indeed in Nigeria. The gruesome incident at Yelwata is only the latest, in a cascading series of catastrophic violence, pitching farmers and herders, which dishearteningly seems to defy solutions, including decisive action by the Federal Government-controlled security agencies. While not unmindful of and appreciates the efforts of the security agencies in their determination to tame the violent situation in Benue State and elsewhere.
“To show a new determination, only a few days before the Yelwata Tragedy, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) had undertaken a high visibility relocation to Benue State. That the Yelwata Tragedy would take place within days of the COAS’s relocation clearly illustrates that prevailing curtailment strategy must therefore be reviewed, to frontally confront the discomfiting regime of terrorism, insurgencies, banditry, communal conflicts, etc, however labelled. Proactive measures, including vigilance, improved intelligence gathering must be the crucial ingredients of new curtailment strategies against the recurring cycle of senseless violence.
“Therefore, ACF calls on citizens of Benue and other violence-prone states to commit to rejecting hate narratives, fear and anger and replace same with empathy and understanding, cooperation and reconciliation.
“For the immediate provision of adequate relief materials to The Yelwata and other affected communities by the Federal and Benue State Governments.
“ACF commends the efforts of Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State who has been visibly trying to fashion a new approach to finding lasting peace in the State, and refreshingly, through inclusive peace-building efforts to unearth the underlying causes of the cycle of violence. In doing so, impunity must not be allowed to continue to hold sway, all those found culpable must held to justice.
“ACF encourages community and religious leaders to utilise every opportunity at their disposal to act and foster exhaustive and inclusive dialogue and understanding between communities, denounce violence and incitement as well as to promote values of shared humanity, tolerance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. May peace, understanding, cooperation and social harmony return to Benue State and all to all Arewa and other States”. The statement said.
