The Tor Tiv the fifth of Benue and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, James Ayatse, has accused some politicians of deliberately politicising the state’s security crisis and allegedly wishing for the situation to deteriorate.
Speaking in Makurdi on Wednesday during a stakeholder meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who was in the state to sympathise with victims of the recent Yelewata massacre, the traditional leader decried what he described as “political games” being played at the expense of human lives.
“An apprehension, Your Excellency, that we have is the politicisation of the crisis. Politicians in the state are busy politicising the crisis, passing blames instead of joining hands to address it.
“We hear that there are some politicians who would even prefer that the crisis worsens so that it will be a basis for a declaration of a state of emergency in Benue State.
“Your Excellency, this is unfortunate. Any politician that prays for more people to die for such a project is against the wishes of the people of Benue State,” Ayatse said.
‘Calculated Genocide’
The traditional ruler also criticised ongoing narratives that mischaracterise the violence in the region, calling on the Federal Government to acknowledge the true nature of the killings.
We have grave concern about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue,” he said.
“Your Excellency, it is not herders-farmers clashes, it is not communal clashes, it is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes. It is this misinformation that has led to suggestions such as ‘remain tolerant’, ‘negotiate for peace’, or ‘learn to live with your neighbours.’
“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 on for decades and is worsening every year.
“Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment. So we are dealing with something far more sinister than we often admit.”
Ayatse further appealed to President Tinubu to act decisively, noting that Benue had made immense sacrifices for national unity.
“I appeal, Your Excellency, Benue State has made a lot of sacrifices to keep this country united. Many of our people died during the civil war. We paid the supreme price to keep this country united. Why should we be treated like this?” he asked.
“What you have come to condole today is just one in a series of several massacres in the state. What has Benue State done to merit what we are going through?
“We appeal to you to end the genocide going on in Benue State and the insecurity in all parts of Nigeria. We know you are capable of doing it, sir. You can give us peace in Benue State.”
He added, “Our farmers have been chased out of their farms. There is hunger; there is a food insecurity challenge. All we ask is: give us peace, so that our people can go back to their farms and continue to produce food.”
