Benue Killings: “Calling For Reconciliation Means You Know The Killers” – Ex-Lawmaker Slams Tinubu
Amid mounting national concern over the recurring violence in Benue State, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mark Gbillah, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of being misinformed and failing to grasp the gravity of the killings plaguing the state.
Gbillah, speaking passionately in an interview with Arise News on Monday, questioned the rationale behind President Tinubu’s recent directive calling for “reconciliation and dialogue” between communities in Benue. The former lawmaker expressed strong skepticism about such an approach, suggesting that asking people to reconcile implies the federal government knows who the attackers are.
🎙 “There Is a War Against a Section of This Country”
In his searing remarks, Gbillah didn’t mince words:
“Mr. President, I want to use this opportunity to emphasise the fact that there’s a war against people in a part of your country,” he declared. “You cannot beat a child and expect the child not to cry.”
He recounted a recent peaceful protest in Benue that was met with overwhelming force—tear gas, armed personnel, and even military helicopters hovering over demonstrators. These, he noted, were the same tools of enforcement absent when real attackers strike local communities.
“Helicopters flew over us, not the killers. Protesters were intercepted, not the gunmen,” he lamented.
❗ Misrepresentation of the Crisis?
Gbillah took particular issue with the language used in the President’s directive, especially references to reprisal attacks and warring parties—terms he says grossly misrepresent the current situation.
“There is no such thing as reprisal attacks going on. Our people are under siege,” he insisted. “These are not two equal sides clashing; this is a community being invaded again and again.”
The former lawmaker argued that the President’s call for “dialogue” among warring groups suggests an equal footing that simply does not exist. Instead, he insisted the people of Benue are victims of a systematic campaign of violence, predominantly linked to suspected herdsmen militia.
🗣 “Tell the President the Truth”
Gbillah didn’t stop at the President. He also took aim at government officials and aides, including Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, accusing them of feeding the president inaccurate or watered-down reports.
“Mr. President is being misinformed and ill-advised,” he said. “There’s too much sycophancy. If you want the truth, speak to the people.”
He urged Tinubu to rely not just on filtered intelligence or political surrogates but to directly engage with credible voices in Benue—leaders who are willing to speak the unvarnished truth about the crisis.
⚖ Reconciliation or Retaliation?
The President’s earlier directive tasked Governor Hyacinth Alia with convening reconciliation meetings and fostering harmony among “warring factions.” While this move may be well-intentioned, critics argue that such calls ignore the underlying power dynamics and recurring nature of the violence.
To many in Benue, reconciliation without justice is both premature and insulting, especially when the root causes—land conflicts, displacement, ethnic aggression, and weak security response—remain unresolved.
👁 The Bigger Picture
Gbillah’s remarks come at a time when national scrutiny is intensifying on Tinubu’s handling of internal security challenges. With growing unrest in other parts of the country, including Plateau, Zamfara, and Kaduna, the President’s crisis management strategy is increasingly under pressure.
As Tinubu prepares for his Wednesday visit to Benue, many will watch closely—not just for his words, but for concrete action that signals a genuine commitment to ending the bloodshed and protecting every Nigerian life, regardless of region or background.
