Benue Tragedy: Anifowoshe Decries Unfolding Events
As violence continues to grip parts of Benue State, voices across Nigeria are calling for urgent and decisive leadership. One such voice is that of Titilope Anifowoshe, a respected political commentator and legal expert, who has raised concerns over what she describes as a painful repetition of history unfolding in the state.
In an exclusive interview monitored by NewsVista, Anifowoshe expressed disappointment that the same issues Governor Hyacinth Alia strongly condemned during his campaign are now resurfacing — and under his leadership.
“It is deeply unfortunate that we are witnessing a repetition of the very crisis Governor Alia once promised to end,” she said. “The people of Benue deserve better than recycled violence and recycled promises.”
Anifowoshe stressed that true leadership requires more than political statements — it requires swift action and broad collaboration. She urged all stakeholders, from federal officials to community leaders, to rise above politics and work towards sustainable peace.
“There is an urgent need for leadership that goes beyond rhetoric,” she told NewsVista. “All hands must be on deck — federal, state, and local governments, including traditional leaders — to calm the tension and confront the root causes of this crisis. Benue doesn’t need another round of blame. It needs real solutions.”
Her remarks come in the wake of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, where he met with residents of the crisis-hit Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area. The President landed at the Nigerian Air Force base in Makurdi shortly before 1 p.m., according to information gathered by NewsVista.
During the visit, President Tinubu expressed sorrow over the continued bloodshed, urging all parties to embrace peace, unity, and mutual understanding. He offered condolences to the families of those killed and displaced by the violence and assured residents of federal support.
“This is not the time for division. It is a time for healing,” the President was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s official itinerary — initially placing him in Kaduna State on Wednesday, June 18 — has been adjusted, with the visit now expected to take place on Thursday, June 19, 2025. The president is scheduled to commission several state projects during that stop.
For many in Benue, the visit from the nation’s leader is welcome, but concerns remain. Critics argue that visits and condolences must now be backed by concrete interventions — not just promises.
As Anifowoshe concluded in her remarks, “We can no longer afford to recycle tragedies. Benue deserves a new narrative — one of peace, not pain.”