In a renewed push to end years of violent conflict and bloodshed in Benue State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the formation of a high-powered Leadership Committee for Peace and Reconciliation in Benue.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following a closed-door meeting with top security officials, community leaders, and select former governors from across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
The committee, described as “non-partisan, inclusive, and action-driven,” is tasked with facilitating dialogue among warring communities, advising on sustainable peacebuilding strategies, and supporting the return and rehabilitation of displaced persons.
“Peace is not just the absence of bullets — it is the presence of justice, healing, and mutual respect,” President Tinubu said while unveiling the initiative. “The people of Benue have suffered too long. We must all rise above division and restore peace, security, and dignity to the land.”
The committee will be chaired by former Senate President David Mark, a respected statesman from Benue State, and co-chaired by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd). Other members include:
Former Benue State Governor George Akume
Bishop Matthew Kukah, representing faith leaders
Hajiya Amina Bala Zakari, for women and humanitarian inclusion
A representative of the Tiv Traditional Council
A representative of Fulani community groups
Senior officers from the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Police Force, and Nigerian Army
The committee has been given a six-month timeline to submit a comprehensive report and recommendations on pathways to lasting peace. Their tasks include:
Mediating between aggrieved parties in Tiv, Idoma, and Fulani communities
Identifying root causes of the violence and proposing durable solutions
Engaging youth, women, and religious leaders in peace advocacy
Overseeing conflict-sensitive resettlement of displaced persons
Recommending policy and legal reforms to prevent future clashes
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State welcomed the move, describing it as “a long-overdue federal recognition of the deep pain Benue communities have endured.” He pledged his administration’s full cooperation with the committee’s work.
Civil society groups have also lauded the initiative, with the Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (CPCR) calling it “the most comprehensive federal response yet” to the crisis.
President Tinubu emphasized that peace in Benue is not just a regional issue but a national imperative.
“Benue feeds the nation. If the farms are not safe, the future is not safe. This committee is not just about Benue — it’s about Nigeria’s unity and survival,” he declared.
The committee will begin field engagements in July, starting with town hall meetings in Guma, Logo, and Agatu local government areas — regions hardest hit by the violence.
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