As communities in Benue State grapple with the resurgence of brutal violence, former governor and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has condemned the latest spate of killings in Yelwata, describing them as “a deep wound to the soul of our nation.”
In a statement issued on Monday, Akume mourned the victims of violence across Benue, Plateau, and Zamfara states, insisting that the killings are rooted in economic motivations rather than religious tensions. “The innocent lives lost — men, women, and children — will not be forgotten,” he said. “We mourn them not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters, bound by a shared humanity and a common destiny.”
While expressing gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the swift deployment of troops and humanitarian support through NEMA, Akume reaffirmed his commitment to mobilizing all efforts towards a lasting solution. “As a son of the soil and a key stakeholder, I will not relent. We must rise above division and act decisively to protect our people and preserve our future,” he stated.
Akume emphasised unity and the sanctity of human life across religious and cultural lines: “Whether Christian, Muslim, or traditionalist, we all believe in the sanctity of life. Any life lost offends the sensibility of God Almighty.”
However, his message of reconciliation and unity has met with pointed criticism from the Zone ‘A’ People’s Assembly (ZAPA), which has attributed the worsening insecurity in Benue to a deteriorating relationship between Senator Akume and Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Speaking in the aftermath of the Yelwata massacre in Guma Local Government Area, ZAPA President Fanen Mondo argued that the present crisis echoes patterns seen during previous breakdowns in political relationships involving Akume. “Insurgency in Benue visibly escalated when the political alliance between Akume and former governors Suswam and Ortom collapsed,” Mondo said. “History appears to be repeating itself.”
ZAPA accused key actors in Abuja of silence and detachment from the suffering of their constituents. “What links Chito, Tor Donga, Turan, Aôndoana, Yelwata, Apa, and Agatu is not just blood and destruction, but silence — silence from those in power who should act, and those who should speak,” Mondo lamented.
Calling for urgent action, ZAPA urged Governor Alia to declare a state of emergency on security and to personally lead the response effort. “Benue does not need a silent governor,” Mondo stressed. “We need a field commander, ready to defend our ancestral land and confront the real threats head-on.”
ZAPA also appealed to President Tinubu to authorize decisive military intervention, provide humanitarian relief to ravaged communities, and establish a long-term security strategy — including forest surveillance and border control — to address the sustained bloodshed.
Concluding, ZAPA reaffirmed their solidarity with the people of Benue: “The blood of our people cries for justice. We call on all true sons and daughters of the state, regardless of party, religion, or ethnicity, to speak up and stand firm. Benue shall rise again.”
