“It Was Evil That Visited Benue”: NSA Ribadu Vows to End Insecurity After Good Friday Killings
“It Was Evil That Visited Benue”: NSA Ribadu Vows to End Insecurity After Good Friday Killings
By Matthew Eloyi
The National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Tuesday assured the people of Benue State of the Federal Government’s unwavering determination to end the scourge of insecurity in the region.
Ribadu gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, the state capital, following the tragic killing of over 72 persons in Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas on Good Friday.
Describing the attack as a national tragedy, Ribadu declared, “It was evil that visited the state.”
He emphasized that President Bola Tinubu remained deeply concerned about the situation and had stressed that Benue was not alone in its ordeal, noting that insecurity was a challenge affecting the entire country.
“I’m here to commiserate with you and the good people of Benue over the loss of your people and to assure you that the country stands with you. The President is with you. This is a trying period for us all,” Ribadu said.
“This is a moment of sorrow, and it is during such times that you know those who truly care. What happened is a tragedy — an act of evil. But when evil comes, good people must unite to confront it.”
He acknowledged Benue’s critical role in national development, saying, “Benue is an extremely important state in Nigeria. As the food basket of the nation, you are number one in food production, and we are proud of you.”
Ribadu assured the people that the Federal Government would work with them to overcome the challenge: “We will solve this problem together. Do not feel alone — this challenge affects us all.”
He praised the efforts of the nation’s security forces but noted the complexity of the situation: “Our armed forces and security agencies are doing their best, but such incidents persist because it is impossible to deploy personnel to every hamlet.”
“Countries go through difficult phases. Insecurity is a tough challenge to overcome. Causing harm is easy, but solving the underlying issues is much harder — yet we are doing our best. As a government of less than two years, we have already significantly reduced the levels of extreme violence we inherited,” he added.
In his remarks, Governor Hyacinth Alia described the killings as a sober and devastating moment for the state, lamenting the siege Benue has been under since 2011.
“These people have no reason to coexist with peaceful citizens. We have suffered the loss of lives, farmlands, and property,” the governor said.
Alia disclosed that there are currently 17 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the state and that resettling the affected populations has been a daunting task.
“Sankera is the headquarters of food production in the state, yet the attacks have been persistent and unrelenting. Instead of a Good Friday, we experienced a Black Friday, marked by venomous attacks on Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo.”
“It is a devastating time for us. We lost 72 lives — it is unbearable. I have maintained regular contact with the NSA. Our security agencies have worked tirelessly to contain the attacks, but we urgently need more support. The President has been very supportive, and we are hopeful that more help is on the way,” he added.
