The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has expressed deep sorrow over the recent killings in Yelewata, Benue State, describing the attack as a “deep wound to the soul of our nation.”
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has expressed deep sorrow over the recent killings in Yelewata, Benue State, describing the attack as a “deep wound to the soul of our nation.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, the SGF said the continued bloodletting and mindless killings in Benue and other parts of the country are “disheartening and utterly condemnable.”
“This latest reprehensible act — one among too many — is not merely a tragedy for Benue; it is a deep wound to the soul of our nation,” Akume said. “These dastardly acts are not restricted to Benue State alone. Plateau and Zamfara states also suffer the same fate. These killings are economically deterministic, not religiously driven.”
He mourned the innocent victims, noting that their deaths are a loss to the entire country. “The innocent lives lost — men, women, and children — will not be forgotten. We mourn them not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters, bound together by a shared humanity and a common destiny,” he said.
Calling for urgent action from within the state, Akume urged unity and collective responsibility from Benue’s leaders and communities.
“I call on all sons and daughters of Benue, our leaders, traditional institutions, and key stakeholders to come together now — urgently — to forge a path toward lasting peace and security. We must rise above division and act decisively to protect our people and preserve our future.”
The SGF commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as “a swift and decisive response,” including a directive for a full security operation and the deployment of additional troops to the troubled areas.
“I express profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his swift directive for a full security operation to rid Benue of these killers and bring the perpetrators to justice. The federal government has also rendered assistance through NEMA, and more troops have been deployed to handle the explosive situation,” he added.
Akume, who hails from Benue, pledged his personal commitment to peace-building efforts both within the state and in other crisis-hit areas.
“For my part, as a son of the soil and a key stakeholder, I will not relent in consulting, mobilizing, and coordinating all necessary efforts to find and implement a durable solution, as I am doing the same for all the other affected states.”
The SGF emphasized the sacredness of human life across all faiths and traditions. “As believers — Christians, Muslims, traditionalists — we believe in the sanctity of human lives. Any single life lost offends the sensibility of God Almighty. All of us must live as brothers and sisters in peace and harmony.”
He concluded with a solemn message of solidarity and hope: “I extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families and the resilient people of Benue. In this dark hour, we stand with you. And we will not rest until justice speaks — loudly, clearly, and without delay. May the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace, and may peace return to the land of Benue.”
The tragic attack in Yelewata is the latest in a spate of violent incidents in Benue, which continues to reel from clashes attributed to criminal gangs and armed herders.