Tor Tiv Tells Tinubu: Benue Faces Genocidal Invasion by Herder Terrorists

 His Royal Majesty James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and paramount ruler of the Tiv people, has warned President Bola Tinubu that Benue State is under a “calculated genocidal invasion” by suspected herder terrorists. 

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in the Benue State Government House in Makurdi on Tuesday, June 17, Ayatse urged the president to deploy decisive military action to halt the escalating violence, which has claimed over 500 lives in 2025. The statement follows a devastating attack in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, on June 13, where over 100 residents were killed.

Ayatse addressed Tinubu’s advance team, including Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, describing the attacks as a deliberate campaign to displace Tiv communities. “This is beyond herder-farmer clashes; it is a planned genocide against our people,” he said, citing the systematic targeting of villages, often at night, with homes burned and residents killed indiscriminately. He called for a permanent military base in Guma and intelligence-driven operations to apprehend the perpetrators.

The Yelewata massacre, one of the deadliest in recent years, occurred in the early hours of June 14, killing at least 100 people, including two soldiers and one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Over 3,000 residents were displaced, and 46 injured persons were rushed to hospitals, with 20 later succumbing to their wounds. Governor Hyacinth Alia, who led security chiefs to the site, described the attacks as “terrorism” driven by a “calibrated plan,” echoing Ayatse’s concerns.

Analyst Kabir Adamu told the BBC that 1,043 people were killed in Benue between May 2023 and May 2025, driven by land and resource disputes exacerbated by population growth and environmental stress. The Tor Tiv’s use of “genocide” has drawn attention, with some on X, like @NaijaTruths, praising his boldness, while others caution against inflammatory rhetoric. The Defence Headquarters denied allegations of military sabotage, with General Musa emphasizing the armed forces’ commitment to civilian protection.

The Tor Tiv’s appeal has intensified pressure on Tinubu, who is set to visit Benue on Wednesday to meet victims and stakeholders. Ayatse’s call for a federal task force and grazing reserves aligns with expert recommendations, but past initiatives, like those under former President Muhammadu Buhari, faced resistance. The crisis, rooted in competition between Fulani herders and Christian farmers, remains a complex challenge, with solutions hinging on sustained security and economic reforms.