Tor Tiv: Benue security has improved after Tinubu’s visit

His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv, has noted a significant improvement in Benue’s security landscape following President Bola Tinubu’s visit on June 18, 2025.

Speaking during a condolence visit by First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu to his palace in Makurdi on Tuesday, the paramount ruler acknowledged that while militia and bandit attacks persist, their intensity has notably decreased.

Ayatse attributed the progress to President Tinubu’s directive, which prompted the Chief of Defence Staff to deploy additional security forces to Benue communities.

He referenced the tragic loss of over 200 lives in attacks on June 13 and 14, 2025, underscoring the significance of the First Lady’s visit as a gesture of compassion and solidarity.

“Your presence here reflects both your legislative experience and your heartfelt concern for our nation’s challenges,” Ayatse told Sen. Tinubu. He praised her initiatives in health, agriculture, social investment, and support for orphans, displaced persons, the disabled, and the elderly, noting their impact in Benue, particularly in schools and economic empowerment programs.

However, the Tor Tiv highlighted ongoing challenges, including sustained militia attacks that have displaced farmers, destroyed livelihoods, and caused widespread hunger in a state once known as Nigeria’s “Food Basket.” He described the displaced living in camps or with relatives under harsh conditions, lamenting the inadequate support and compensation provided to affected communities.

Ayatse called the killings a national crisis requiring urgent action, pointing out that even the Nasarawa State governor had raised concerns about terrorist influxes, signaling the gravity of the situation. He criticized the lack of decisive response from federal security agencies and urged for meaningful relief to enable Benue’s people to return to their farms safely.

“We pray for an end to these attacks and for restoration to our communities,” he said, expressing hope that the First Lady’s visit would spur further interventions. (NAN)