Joint security task force deployed to Benue as Tinubu orders decisive action against killings

A special security task force, comprising personnel from the Nigerian military, police, and intelligence agencies, arrived in Benue State yesterday.

This deployment follows a presidential directive to tackle the escalating violence and mass killings that have plagued several local government areas across the state.

The operation, authorized by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, comes in the wake of last weekend’s deadly attack in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, where over 100 people were reportedly killed by unidentified gunmen.

The horrific incident drew widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, and intensified public pressure on the federal government to act decisively.

Presidential sources confirmed that the newly deployed task force has been given a clear mandate: to restore peace, dismantle armed groups operating within the state, and collaborate with local authorities to prevent future attacks.

The operation will focus on intelligence-driven raids, the protection of vulnerable communities, and ensuring rapid response to distress signals across Benue’s most volatile zones.

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Governor Hyacinth Alia welcomed the federal intervention, pledging his administration’s full cooperation.

He noted that Benue residents have lived in fear for too long and expressed hope that the new security initiative would lead to meaningful and lasting peace.

This move marks a significant escalation in the federal government’s response to a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives over the years, primarily stemming from disputes between farming communities and pastoralists.