Nigerian president orders crackdown on gangs after 150 killed in conflict-hit north
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday directed security agencies to hunt down the perpetrators of a weekend attack that killed at least 150 people in the country's northcentral, as he faces growing pressure over a worsening security crisis.
Tinubu visited Benue state, the site of the recent deadly attacks, seeking to calm tensions and promise justice for the victims. 'We will restore peace, rebuild, and bring the perpetrators to justice. You are not alone.' the Nigerian leader said on X.
Assailants stormed Benue state's Yelewata community from Friday night till Saturday morning, opening fire on villagers who were asleep and setting their homes ablaze, survivors and the local farmers union said. Many of those killed were sheltering in a local market after fleeing violence in other parts of the state.
Authorities in Benue state blamed herdsmen for the attack, a type of violence frequently seen in northern Nigeria's decadeslong pastoral conflict.
Opposition leaders and critics have accused Tinubu of a delayed response to the killings, noting his office issued a statement over 24 hours after the attack. His visit to the state occurred five days later.
The Nigerian leader traveled to Makurdi, Benue State's capital, where he visited a hospital to see those injured in the attack and met with local leaders to discuss how to end the killings. He did not visit the Yelewata community.
He also appeared to reprimand the police for not making any arrest yet more than four days after the killings.
'How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals,' Tinubu asked as he addressed senior police officers during a gathering in Benue.
Analysts blame Nigeria's worsening security crisis on a lack of political will to go after criminals and ensure justice for victims.
'In the end, the result is the same: No justice, no accountability, and no closure for the victims and their communities," said Senator Iroegbu, a security analyst based in Nigeria's capital Abuja. 'Until this changes, impunity will remain the norm, and such tragedies will continue to occur.'
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BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
Who and who dey inside di team wey Tinubu gather to stop di attacks for Benue?
Nigeria President Bola Tinubu don set up one committee wey go help bring peace for Benue State. Dis one dey come afta di killing wey happn for Yelewata community inside Guma Local Goment Area of Benue State, wia reports tok say dem kill about 200 pipo. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) tok say thousands of people don lose dia houses sake of di recent attacks wey happun. Who be pipo wey dey inside di team wey Tinubu gather to stop di attacks for Benue? Brigadier General John Atom Kpera na retired Nigerian Army officer wey retire for 1985 afta e don serve for different positions for over two decades. John Atom Kpera bin born on 3 January 1941 for Mbatierev, Gboko Local goment Area wey dey now for Benue State. E go Katsina-Ala College, wey dem dey call goment College Katsina-Ala now, from 1956 go 1961 for im secondary school. Afta e join army, e go Haile Selasie Military Academy for Ethiopia in 1962 for Military Cadet Training, and dem commission am as 2nd Lieutenant for Corps of Engineers in 1965. E don hold different command and staff positions like Engineers Brigade Commander, Squadron Commander, Regimental Commander, and Commander, Corps of Engineers. John Atom Kpera na the first Military Govnor of Anambra State for Nigeria from March 1976 to July 1978, afta dem create di state from old East Central State during military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Later, e come be Military Govnor of Benue State from January 1984 to August 1985 during military regime of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari. George Akume wey dem born 27 December 1953 na former govnor of Benue State wey rule from 1999 to 2007. Na im be di current Secretary to di goment of di Federation. For 1999, Akume becom govnor of Benue State and e serve two terms of four years. For 2007, e win election to represent Benue pipo as senator for Benue North-West for Nigeria Senate. Akume win again as Senator for Benue North-West for April 2011 elections under Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). E win again for Senate under All Progressives Congress (APC) for 2015. E becom chairman for Senate Committee on Army and senior member for Senate. Akume get nomination and confirmation as minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria by Muhammadu Buhari. On 2 June 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appoint am as Secretary to the goment of di Federation (SGF). For May 2023, Akume collect Nigerian national honour Commander of di Order of di Nigeria (CON) from President Muhammadu Buhari. Gabriel Torwua Suswam wey dem born 15 November 1964 na Nigerian politician and former Govnor of Benue State from 2007 - 2015. For 1999 election, e contest for House of Representatives for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency, and e win under People's Democratic Party (PDP). Dem appoint am as Chairman of House Services Committee, later Chairman, House Committee on FCT. E contest again and win for 2003. On 3 July 2003, dem appoint am Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, den for August 2005, dem appoint am Chairman, House Committee on Power. For April 2007, e win election as Govnor of Benue State. Suswam contest for second term for 26 April 2011 gubernatorial elections under PDP. For 28 March 2015 general elections, Gabriel Suswam lose senatorial seat to Chief Barnabas Gemade of APC. Samuel Ioraer Ortom dem born for 23 April 1961, na Nigerian politician, businessman, administrator and philanthropist. E be govnor of Benue State from 2015 - 2023. E start school for St. John's Primary School, Gboko for 1970 but later go St. Catherine's Primary School, Makurdi for 1974. E attend Secondary Commercial College, Idah for Kogi State for 1976. E get General Certificate of Education and Diploma in Salesmanship. E get Interim Joint Matriculation Board Certificate for 1995 and Diploma in Journalism for 1998. E attend Benue State University wey e get Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management for 2001 and Master of Public Administration for 2004. Ortom get Ph.D. from Commonwealth University, Belize. 2011. E be PDP National Auditor before dem appoint am as Minister of State for Nigeria for July 2011. For April 2015, e contest for Governor of Benue State and e win under APC. For July 2018, Ortom talk say e don comot from APC because of internal party wahala. For 9 March 2019 Benue gubernatorial election and 23 March 2019 supplementary election, Ortom win again as Governor. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv V dem born am for 12 May 1956. Na Nigerian academic wey be Paramount Ruler/King of Tiv Nation and president, Tiv Area Traditional Council and chairman, Benue State Council of Chiefs. E become professor of biochemistry for im late thirties and later serve as vice chancellor for two Federal universities between 2001–2006 and 2011–2016. Na only im be first Tiv man wey do am. As Tor Tiv V, Ayatse na first Tiv man wey rule im pipo as professor. E attend LGEA School, Mbagbegba, Shangev-Ya and St Anne's Primary School Adikpo. E attend secondary school for Goment Secondary School, Gboko. Later e go University of Ibadan wey e get for Biochemistry. E do im Master of Science for University of Calabar before e go University of Surrey, Guildford, UK as Commonwealth student wey e finish with Ph.D. for Biochemistry. Tor Tiv later go back University of Calabar for MBA and e become professor of biochemistry – first Tiv man wey achieve that.
The Independent
15 hours ago
- The Independent
Nigerian president orders crackdown on gangs after 150 killed in conflict-hit north
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday directed security agencies to hunt down the perpetrators of a weekend attack that killed at least 150 people in the country's northcentral, as he faces growing pressure over a worsening security crisis. Tinubu visited Benue state, the site of the recent deadly attacks, seeking to calm tensions and promise justice for the victims. 'We will restore peace, rebuild, and bring the perpetrators to justice. You are not alone.' the Nigerian leader said on X. Assailants stormed Benue state's Yelewata community from Friday night till Saturday morning, opening fire on villagers who were asleep and setting their homes ablaze, survivors and the local farmers union said. Many of those killed were sheltering in a local market after fleeing violence in other parts of the state. Authorities in Benue state blamed herdsmen for the attack, a type of violence frequently seen in northern Nigeria's decadeslong pastoral conflict. Opposition leaders and critics have accused Tinubu of a delayed response to the killings, noting his office issued a statement over 24 hours after the attack. His visit to the state occurred five days later. The Nigerian leader traveled to Makurdi, Benue State's capital, where he visited a hospital to see those injured in the attack and met with local leaders to discuss how to end the killings. He did not visit the Yelewata community. He also appeared to reprimand the police for not making any arrest yet more than four days after the killings. 'How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals,' Tinubu asked as he addressed senior police officers during a gathering in Benue. Analysts blame Nigeria's worsening security crisis on a lack of political will to go after criminals and ensure justice for victims. 'In the end, the result is the same: No justice, no accountability, and no closure for the victims and their communities," said Senator Iroegbu, a security analyst based in Nigeria's capital Abuja. 'Until this changes, impunity will remain the norm, and such tragedies will continue to occur.' ____
The Sun
16 hours ago
- The Sun
Don't assume Labour has learnt from rape gangs scandal – now it's targeting criticism of Islam in free speech crackdown
THIS week will forever be remembered as the point at which Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Government jumped on what they once dismissed as the so-called 'bandwagon of the far right'. For much of the past six months, Labour ministers and MPs have lined up to criticise people calling for a national inquiry into the mostly Pakistani-Muslim rape gangs as 'far right' and 'extremist'. 2 2 Or, in the words of Labour MP Lucy Powell, blowing a 'little trumpet' and a 'dog-whistle'. But now, after months of relentless pressure, the Government has finally been forced to recognise what was always obvious to everybody else in this country — that we need a national inquiry to explore how on Earth the mass rape of our children was ever allowed to happen, and to get those girls, and their families, the truth, justice and answers they deserve. But if you think that's where the story ends and Labour has now come to its senses then you'd be very much mistaken. Because on the same day Labour committed to a major inquiry into the rape gangs, something else deeply sinister took place. No doubt hoping few people would notice, Starmer and the Labour Party pushed forward with their plans to impose a dogmatic and dangerous new definition of 'Islamophobia' on the country. This move could stifle free speech and debate about not just the rape gangs but a whole array of closely related issues, including the growing role and impact of Islam on our national life and politics. Authoritarian society Labour's new working group on Islamophobia has launched a 'call for evidence', asking people to help it develop a definition that they say 'will help ministers and other relevant bodies understand what constitutes unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities'. But what this will create, mark my words, is the very opposite of the kind, tolerant and pluralistic society that its supporters talk about. On the contrary, it will usher us into an authoritarian society where our language and views about Islam will be heavily policed and curtailed. What am I talking about, exactly? National inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal finally ordered by Keir Starmer in another Labour U-turn Well, to make sense of this new dark turn in British politics, you need to go back to the original definition of 'Islamophobia' that was put forward, and which the Labour Party supported, by an All Party Parliamentary Group of MPs in 2018. Involving the likes of Tory grandee Dominic Grieve — a man who was so committed to free speech in this country that he relentlessly demanded a second referendum on Brexit — the report defined 'Islamophobia' as being 'rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness'. But what on Earth does this mean, you might ask? What counts as targeting 'expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness'? Anything that will be perceived as 'Islamophobic' by pro-Muslim campaigners and their allies on the radical woke Left, that's what. In fact, astonishingly, that earlier definition endorsed by Labour specifically mentioned discussing the rape gangs and the grooming gang scandal as an example of so-called 'Islamophobia'. It actually described the grooming gangs, which we now know are disproportionately more likely to involve men of Pakistani-Muslim origin, as a 'subtle form of anti-Muslim racism', and 'a modern-day iteration' of 'age-old stereotypes and tropes about Islam and Muslims'. Many of these measures, definitions and laws look more at home in North Korea than Britain. Matt Goodwin Indeed, for much of the past ten years many left-wing activists, journalists and politicians have argued that even discussing the rape gangs was an example of so-called 'anti-Muslim hatred' or 'Islamophobia'. This, alongside Starmer's concerted efforts to brand anybody who opposes mass immigration and wanted an inquiry into the rape gangs as 'far right', is exactly why so many local councils, police officers, social workers and more shied away from investigating the scandal to begin with. They feared being tainted with the 'Islamophobic' or 'racist' brush. And it's not just about the rape gangs. That same dodgy definition of 'Islamophobia', in 2018, also suggested that talking about the alleged demographic threat that some people feel is posed to Western nations by the rise of Islam could also be considered 'Islamophobic'. Here in the UK, my own research suggests that because of mass immigration and different birth rates among different groups, by the year 2100 roughly one in five of all people in the UK will be following Islam, while potentially close to one in three young people, under the age of 40, will be Muslim by the end of this century. If the original definition of 'Islamophobia', which Labour MPs backed, is to be believed then merely even debating these profound and unprecedented demographic shifts could be considered 'Islamophobic'. Sharia law And what about pointing to some of the negative effects of these changes that we can already see emerging in our politics today, such as the rise of sectarian Muslim MPs in the House of Commons spending more time focusing on what is happening in Gaza, or campaigning for a new airport in Pakistan, than wanting to fix problems in their own constituency? The original definition, overseen by Wes Streeting and another diehard anti-Brexit activist, Anna Soubry, specifically said that discussing 'conspiracies about Muslim entryism in politics, government or other societal institutions' could be considered 'Islamophobic'. So would we not be allowed to express our opposition to this kind of divisive, sectarian politics or voice concern about the fact, as a survey has shown, that 40 per cent of British Muslims would support a 'Muslim-only' political party, while roughly one third would back the imposition of a parallel Sharia law system in Britain? What all this is pushing us into, I believe, is a chilling Orwellian world where we will become unable to criticise Islam or point to negative changes that are happening within our society because of these demographic shifts. Look, too, at how the freedom to criticise Islam has been restricted through the case of Hamit Coskun, a man who burned a Koran and was found guilty of committing a 'racially aggravated public order offence' during what was a peaceful protest. In this case, the Public Order Act was essentially used to crack down on legitimate public protest and criticism of Islam, effectively reviving long-abolished blasphemy laws and undermining the notion — long central to British life — that no religion is above the law. These islands, once upon a time, were the home of free speech, free expression and individual liberty. Matt Goodwin You might remember, too, even if Starmer never talks about it while telling Vice President JD Vance we have no free speech crisis in Britain, that we still have a school teacher from Batley, West Yorks, in hiding in Britain who happened to upset local Muslims by showing a picture they happened to find 'offensive'. And make no mistake: this war on free speech is not just about the dogmatic definition of Islamophobia which Starmer and his Labour Government are trying to smuggle into our laws, institutions and country through the back door. It is also about the proliferation of hate laws and so-called 'non-crime hate incidents' in this country. These are used to suppress free speech by encouraging people to report their fellow citizens to the police when they merely perceive one of their 'protected characteristics', such as religion, race or sexual orientation, to have been offended in some way. Think I'm exaggerating? Since 2014, police authorities have recorded more than 133,000 of these dystopian measures, which in turn chill free speech across British society by warning others not to say anything that might be considered 'offensive'. Vigorous debate And it is also about how terms such as 'far right' and 'Islamo- phobia' are today being inflated and expanded to such an extent by the likes of Starmer and Yvette Cooper that they have not only become utterly meaningless but are routinely used to try to shut down debate and discredit anybody who challenges the policies of the ruling class, such as mass uncontrolled immigration, our broken borders, or, as we saw earlier this year, the Pakistani-Muslim rape gangs. These islands, once upon a time, were the home of free speech, free expression and individual liberty. They were a place where people could join together and have a vigorous debate about what was happening in their country, even if this offended others. But increasingly, today, we are ruled by people who can sense their grip on power is now under threat and are using whatever is at their disposal to try to control and curtail the national conversation, to narrow the parameters of what is considered acceptable to discuss. I don't know about you but this is neither the Britain I recognise nor the kind of country I particularly want to live in. Many of these measures, definitions and laws look more at home in North Korea than Britain. If the rape gang scandal has taught us anything then it is that we must reject all these speech codes and the policing of everyday language. We must return to the traditions of free speech, free expression, individual liberty and debate that have long defined these islands — irrespective of who they might offend.
