Television Nigerian

There is widespread outrage over the scale of killings in an agrarian border community in Benue State, where scores of residents lost their lives in a brutal and coordinated assault that lasted from Friday night into Saturday morning.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who visited the scene, described the aftermath as devastating — with dozens of homes burned and properties destroyed, leaving a grim reminder of the horror that unfolded. During a closed-door meeting with community leaders, he offered condolences and assured them of immediate military reinforcement to stabilize Yata and other flashpoints across the state.

“We are tired of innocent souls being killed. We’re here to ensure that we address this from now. I will be meeting with my commanders, and we have to change our strategy. We will look inward to see how we can address it. But as I mentioned, we cannot do it alone. We need the cooperation of the community, the state, and everyone to end this,” General Musa stated.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who was also on ground, revealed that tactical police units in the area have been doubled to strengthen law enforcement and improve intelligence gathering. “When one incident happens, hundreds more have been prevented — incidents that the public never gets to know about. The fact that this happened does not mean we have not been deploying. We have been working closely with the military and other security agencies to end the reign of impunity by these criminal elements. We urge residents to report strangers or suspicious activities promptly,” he said.

Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, condemned the killings in strong terms. He expressed confidence that the visit by top security chiefs would mark a turning point in ending the cycle of violence. “The President is deeply concerned. The presence of these top security officers here today is reassuring to our people. We remain hopeful that such devastating occurrences will no longer happen — not just in this local government but across the entire state,” the governor stated.

General Musa also proceeded to the 401 Special Forces Brigade headquarters in Makurdi, where he held strategic sessions with commanders and addressed troops at the 72 Special Forces Battalion. Both the military and the police high command have reiterated their determination to prevent such atrocities in the future.

Due to the increasing number of gang and cult conflicts in Mushin and other areas of the state, the Lagos State House of Assembly has called in Jimoh Moshood, the state commissioner of police, along with three additional commissioners.
After Olayinka Kazeem, who represents Mushin Constituency II, presented a motion of urgent public interest, lamenting the growing cult-related disturbance in the region, the resolution was approved during plenary on Monday.
Kazeem said that the situation was “heartbreaking to both the people and the families of these children,” adding that entire villages had been plunged into confusion and panic and that lives had been lost.
“In my constituency, there has been an alarming increase in youth unrest and violence related to cults,” he stated.

“I implore this Assembly to direct security agencies to enforce stringent drug control and step up their crackdown on cultism.”

Read Also: Okanga Is A Leader Who Feels the Pain of His People

In order to stop additional declines into violence, he also urged immediate youth reorientation and intervention initiatives.

In response, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa ordered the Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Robert, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government, Ope George, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, and Tolani Ali-Balogun, the Commissioner for Education, to appear before the House.

These criminals, many of whom are currently residing under bridges, must be dealt with by the local governments.

According to Obasa, “we must also intensify efforts to engage the youths meaningfully.”

He emphasized that social engagement techniques and security intervention will be necessary to combat youth cultism.

The motion was backed by Nureni Akinsanya, the MP who represents Mushin I, who claimed that violent gangs operating fearlessly had taken over multiple streets in Mushin.

In his input, Bonu Solomon (Badagry I) demanded that individuals convicted of cult-related crimes face tougher punishments, cautioning that ignoring the problem would simply give the offenders more confidence.

“The legal response needs to be strengthened. Solomon argued that cultism ought to have harsher penalties.
Abuse of sachet wine, according to Femi Saheed (Kosofe II), is linked to an increase in violence because it affects judgment and encourages hostility in young people. In order to address the underlying roots of the issue, he advocated for stakeholder meetings held in the neighborhood.

He cautioned, “We’ll keep fighting a cycle until we address the triggers, especially drug and alcohol abuse.”

Lagos Mainland II’s Rasheed Shabi also mentioned that constituents frequently put pressure on lawmakers to step in and obtain bail for cult members who have been detained.

“We have to quit protecting them. Let them face the full consequences of their actions,” Shabi declared.

In the wake of the killings in Benue State, Chief Dr. Philip Agbese did not stay silent. He stood firmly, as he always has, with the people of Benue. With deep emotion, he condemned the senseless violence and called out the ongoing systemic neglect that allows communities in Benue to remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.
Okanga didn’t just speak for political effect, he spoke from a place of compassion and truth. He sympathized deeply with the victims’ families and the entire Benue community.
For years, Benue people have cried out. And for years, those cries have been met with silence or excuses.
But Okanga refuses to accept silence as normal. He is calling for Immediate and lasting security intervention across the Middle Belt, justice for victims of the Yelewata massacre and all previous attacks, federal accountability because safety is not a privilege, it is a right, and recognition of Benue’s suffering on the national security agenda.
To him, being a leader means standing with your people in their darkest hour. And now, more than ever, Benue needs leaders who will not turn away. Okanga is one of those rare few: bold, broken by the pain, but unrelenting in his demand for peace.
In times like this, leadership is not about power, it’s about heart. A true leader must feel the pain of the people, not just read about it in reports. A true leader must stand with the wounded, speak for the unheard, and act with compassion. And that’s exactly who Chief Philip Agbese is.
When Benue bleeds, Okanga speaks. When lives are lost, he mourns with the people. When families cry out, he answers with action. He shows up. He listens. He stands with the brokenhearted. Because for him, this isn’t about politics, it’s about human lives.
“We cannot ignore the pain of our people. Leadership must have empathy”— Okanga

Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State, has stated through the Edo State Diaspora Agency that a revolutionary and creative policy framework will empower and engage Edo State’s worldwide diaspora.
According to a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor claimed that the program demonstrates his administration’s dedication to fortifying ties with Edo indigenous people around the world by putting their welfare first, maximizing diaspora remittances for planned economic growth, and presenting a positive, cohesive image of Edo State internationally.

He recognized the various issues that diaspora members experience, especially the mental health issues that irregular migrants face after enduring perilous and painful travels.

The government of Governor Okpebholo is committed to offering both financial and humanitarian help, reaffirming the worth of every Edo life, according to the statement. The diaspora is now seen as important stakeholders whose welfare is critical to the state’s overall development, marking a dramatic change from seeing them as merely providers of remittances.

Additionally, as diaspora remittances have long been an essential lifeline for Edo families and the state economy, the administration’s goal is to unleash their enormous economic potential.

Edo State alone contributes an astounding $7 billion a year, according to recent figures, which makes up about one-third of all remittances from Nigeria’s diaspora.

“The government of Governor Okpebholo is dedicated to formalizing these financial flows using creative techniques that promote security, transparency, and investment preparedness in light of this.

Through the implementation of security reforms, responsive governance, and strong infrastructure development, the state hopes to transform informal personal remittances into significant investments that will support long-term economic transformation in a variety of industries.

At the same time, the administration is committed to changing and promoting Edo State’s story internationally. Edo people are still quite successful in a variety of sectors throughout the diaspora, making a substantial contribution to their host communities while being very connected to their historical roots.

In order to empower enthusiastic persons as official liaisons who keep an open line of communication with the government in both directions, the government is utilizing Edo associations and educational alumni networks that are already established across the world.

In addition to these initiatives, a state-of-the-art web portal has been created that allows Edo indigenous people to register and obtain special identification numbers that verify their community membership. By increasing the visibility of diaspora businesses and opening up exclusive benefits like money transfer refunds and possible tax cuts for returning citizens, this platform promotes more economic engagement and a sense of community.

Read Also: Nigerian Care Worker Jailed by UK Court Over Inappropriate Act with Patient

The policy’s emphasis on community-driven development, in which local Edo communities determine their most pressing needs and encourage the diaspora to sponsor specific projects, is one of its key components. By bridging geographical gaps and bringing the Edo people together around a common goal, this strategy will promote a cooperative development paradigm.

Using a thorough, research-based approach, the government also addresses the pressing problem of irregular migration. Under the direction of Dr. Loretta Ogboro-Oko, the organization intends to collaborate with broadcast media outlets to create the “Echoes from the Diaspora” series, acknowledging that migration issues are frequently caused by exploitation and false information.