Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede visited Makurdi, Benue State, to assess security challenges and met with Governor Hyacinth Alia, pledging intensified military operations against banditry and herder-farmer clashes.
The visit followed attacks in Kwande and Gwer West, killing 25 farmers in May 2025, part of 1,200 deaths in Benue since 2024. Oluyede, inspecting troops at the 72 Battalion, announced the deployment of 500 additional soldiers and $20 million in equipment, including 10 armored vehicles, to curb violence, which displaced 500,000 residents in 2024. He assured Alia of sustained patrols in flashpoints like Logo and Ukum, where 60% of attacks occur.
Alia, who allocated ₦500 million for security in 2025, urged federal support for state police, citing 70% public approval in Benue polls, and requested a military base in Sankera, a bandit hub. Oluyede highlighted recent successes, including neutralizing 15 bandits in Apa on May 28, recovering 10 AK-47s, but warned of cross-border arms smuggling, with 80% of weapons traced to Libya.
The visit, attended by 20 traditional rulers, addressed 30% youth involvement in militias, with Alia’s amnesty program reintegrating 1,000 youths since 2023. Critics, including 40% of IDPs, decried slow responses, as 1,500 herder attacks occurred in 2024. Oluyede’s pledge aligns with Tinubu’s $200 million security budget, but analysts doubt impact without addressing poverty, driving 50% of Benue’s crime. The visit signals renewed federal focus, but 10,000 unresolved clashes nationwide highlight systemic challenges.