PeakNews Online
In the wake of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Benue State following the killing of over 200 people in Yelewata community, governors under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Tuesday held an emergency security meeting in Abuja with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.
The meeting, held at the NGF Secretariat in Abuja, was convened to address the rising wave of insecurity across the country, particularly in the North-Central region.
President Tinubu, during his visit to Makurdi last week, had met with Benue stakeholders and condemned the killings. He also directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to apprehend those responsible for the attacks. The President further tasked intelligence agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), to enhance surveillance and prevent further violence.
Tuesday’s emergency session was chaired by NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. In attendance were governors from at least 16 states, including Lagos, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Nasarawa, Osun, Plateau, Anambra, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Kogi, Ondo, Imo, Cross River, Ogun, and Edo.
While the official agenda of the meeting was not made public, sources within the forum indicated that the recent Yelewata massacre and the general state of insecurity were top on the agenda.
The meeting comes amid growing national outrage over persistent attacks by suspected armed herders and criminal elements, particularly in rural communities. Many citizens have called for urgent security sector reforms and a more proactive response to the escalating violence.
