…“No excuses — Get those criminals now,” President warns military, intelligence agencies
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday issued a stern rebuke to Nigeria’s security chiefs for their failure to apprehend those behind the deadly attack in Yelewata, Benue State, demanding immediate action and results.
The President, visibly displeased by the lack of arrests following the massacre that left scores dead, injured, and displaced, questioned the response of the security agencies.
> “How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be arrests of those criminals,” Tinubu asked pointedly during a high-level security meeting at the Presidential Villa.
The meeting, convened in the wake of the brutal killings in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area, brought together the nation’s top security and intelligence leaders, including the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, and the heads of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
“Let’s Get Those Criminals Out”
Addressing the service chiefs directly, Tinubu called on General Christopher Musa (CDS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede (COAS), and Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar (CAS) to intensify both ground and aerial surveillance in the affected areas and hunt down the perpetrators.
> “Christopher, I know you cannot be tired of staying in the bush—you and Oloyede and the Air Marshal—we need to keep our ears to the ground,” he said. “Let’s get those criminals. Let’s get them out!”
The President assured the armed forces of his full support and backing, but made it clear that excuses would no longer be tolerated. “This must not happen again,” he warned.
Intelligence Agencies Told to Step Up
In addition to military action, President Tinubu directed the Director-General of the NIA and the DSS to retool their intelligence-gathering operations and supply actionable intelligence that can prevent further attacks and lead to the arrest of suspects already linked to the killings.
“This is not the time for passive intelligence. I want results and I want them now,” Tinubu said, as he emphasized the urgency of stopping the recurring violence in Benue and surrounding areas.
President Visits Epicenter of Carnage
President Tinubu’s tough stance followed his visit to Yelewata, where he met with families of victims, displaced persons, and community leaders still reeling from the aftermath of the attack allegedly carried out by armed herders.
The President’s visit to the flashpoint community underscored his personal commitment to restoring peace, justice, and order to the region.
The Yelewata attack, one of the deadliest in recent memory, has reignited national outrage over insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and renewed calls for a comprehensive strategy to curb violent clashes, often rooted in land disputes and communal tensions.
“No One Is Above the Law”
By demanding swift arrests and operational results, President Tinubu has sent a clear message: those responsible for the Yelewata killings must be held accountable, and no one, regardless of affiliation or backing, is above the law.
The military and intelligence agencies are now under intense pressure to deliver, as the nation watches closely for justice in the wake of yet another tragedy that has once again shaken the conscience of the country.
