Nigeria Governors’ Forum holds closed-door meeting with NSA Ribadu, Defence Minister Abubakar amid national outrage over killings in Benue community

Governors meet Ribadu defence minister in Abuja as Nigeria reels from the brutal massacre in Benue State. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) convened the closed-door session on Wednesday at its secretariat, with security as the likely focus amid rising public anger and a national outcry.

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Under the leadership of Forum Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the session hosted the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and Defence Minister Mohammed Abubakar. Governors from 16 states, including Anambra, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, and Cross River, were in attendance.

Though the meeting’s official agenda was undisclosed, sources confirmed it involved direct briefing from the NSA and the defence minister. The timing follows the killing of over 100 residents by suspected herders in Yelewata, a community in Benue State.

Earlier in the day, President Bola Tinubu visited Benue and held a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi. He was accompanied by top federal officials, traditional rulers, and former state governors.

At the meeting, President Tinubu issued a firm directive to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, to arrest the perpetrators without delay.

He also tasked the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify surveillance and intelligence gathering to bring the killers to justice.

National Security Adviser Ribadu described the massacre as a deliberate act of evil. His words reflected the deepening frustration over continued violence in the region and the lack of decisive response from federal security agencies.

The NGF’s engagement with top security officials underscores growing concern among state governments over the spread of rural violence and the credibility of national security operations.

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While no official statement has been released at press time, the meeting marks a crucial moment of coordination between state executives and the national security architecture. It also reflects a broader urgency to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s ability to protect its citizens.