President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a decisive directive to Nigeria’s security chiefs, ordering the immediate implementation of prior commands to restore peace and security in volatile parts of the country, with a special focus on Benue State.

In a statement released on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu also instructed Governor Hyacinth Alia to urgently convene reconciliation meetings between farmers, herders, and local communities in the state.

“The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough,” President Tinubu declared.

Calling the recent violence “inhuman and anti-progress,” Tinubu emphasized the need for de-escalation, peacebuilding, and justice. He warned political and community leaders against making statements or taking actions that might worsen the situation.

 “I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them,” he added.

The President further urged Governor Alia to act as a statesman, stating that the responsibility to initiate dialogue and reconciliation now rests on his shoulders.

 “Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony, and differences are addressed with fairness, openness, and justice.”

The directive comes in the wake of renewed deadly attacks in Benue State, which have claimed hundreds of lives in recent weeks, fueling anger and demands for immediate action from the federal government.