From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
As Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu visits Benue State over the killing of over 200 residents in Yelwata community today, a security consultant, AIG Austin Iwar (rtd), has listed a litany of things the president must do before he leaves the state.
Iwar said the President must recognise that the moment is not merely ceremonial but a test of his leadership and a call to action.
According to him, anything less than a bold, coordinated and sustained intervention would further undermine the trust of the people in the Federal Government.
He said the President must act to address the immediate crisis, support the displaced and establish the foundation for long-term peace.
He said: “The President must clearly describe the situation in Benue as it is; a sustained campaign of armed violence by non-state actors against law-abiding citizens. He must publicly declare that this is not a farmer-herder clash. It is organised, unprovoked violence and it must be treated as a national security emergency. His words must reflect the gravity of the crisis and his tone must convey resolve.”
Describing Benue as home to thousands of citizens who have lived in IDP camps for five to seven years, living in conditions that are harsh with inadequate access to food, water, healthcare and education, he urged the President to visit one or two IDP camps in person.
“He must announce a Federal Resettlement and Reintegration Plan for Benue IDPs, direct the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to begin the process of rebuilding destroyed communities and returning displaced persons to their ancestral lands.
He also said the president should create a special rehabilitation fund for the IDPs who have lost homes, family members and livelihoods, stressing that keeping citizens in camps without a long-term plan is not protection but abandonment.
He urged the president to issue a clear and immediate national security directives and launch a federal peace and security plan for Middle Belt, such as the creation of a Middle Belt Security Trust Fund that would be managed transparently, to support the rebuilding of destroyed homes, provide support to displaced persons and compensate victims of verified attacks.
He said: “The President’s visit to Benue must be more than an inspection tour; it must be a call to action and a commitment to justice. The people of Benue are not just victims of violence; they are citizens who expect protection under the Nigerian Constitution. The response to this crisis will define the legacy of the Federal Government on national security and human rights.
“Benue does not need pity; it needs leadership, resources and protection. This is the time to act, not just to speak. The President has a rare opportunity to turn the page and begin a new chapter; one where the Nigerian state is seen to protect all its citizens equally, firmly and justly.
“Benue is not at war with anyone. But Benue is under attack. That is the truth; the President must speak and the reality he must act upon,” Iwar said.