Benue massacre: Ex- EFCC boss urges leaders to unite against killings

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Farida Waziri, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police and former Chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has urged political figures and traditional leaders in Benue State to put aside their disputes and come together in the face of continued violence and displacement caused by armed attacks.

She made this appeal during a visit to victims of the recent unrest in the Yelwata community and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Makurdi, the state capital, where she donated food supplies and basic household items on Saturday.

“This is no time for division. There is no time for political squabbling or ego-driven manoeuvring,” Waziri said during her remarks.

“Among us are men and women who have led this state; former governors, legislators, traditional rulers, individuals with influence and authority. The time has come to set aside our differences and stand united, for the sake of the ordinary Benue man, woman, and child.”

She warned that the escalating attacks resemble a deliberate and systematic effort to wipe out the people and cultural identity of Benue State.

Referencing Winston Churchill, she stressed the urgency of taking action together, cautioning that failure to act now could leave the state in a desperate struggle for survival.

Waziri echoed sentiments previously expressed by President Bola Tinubu during his recent visit, but insisted that peace would not come through dialogue alone.

She pointed to several deep-rooted issues driving the violence, including ethnic strife, banditry, cult-related activities, drug abuse, and the long-standing farmer-herder clashes.

“These horrors did not emerge in a vacuum; they are symptoms of deeper issues. We must therefore confront the real causes… with honesty and courage.”

Waziri concluded with a heartfelt plea to all indigenes of Benue, both within Nigeria and abroad, to come together and work toward ending the violence and restoring the state’s dignity.

“We must commit to healing our wounds, reclaiming our land, and ensuring that never again will a child in Benue grow up in a camp instead of a home,” she said.

The relief items she donated included rice, yams, sugar, and other essentials.

Her outreach was prompted by the deadly June 13 attacks in Yelwata, where over 200 people reportedly lost their lives.

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