George Akume Asserts: ‘No Tribe Can Be Eliminated’ Amid Benue Violence

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has firmly stated that no person or group will ever succeed in erasing any ethnic group from existence.

Speaking on Tuesday, June 17, during the official launch of federal relief efforts for victims of recent attacks in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Akume denounced the violence as deeply disturbing and suggestive of ethnic cleansing.

“These attacks, cloaked in the language of ethnic extermination, are completely unjustifiable and must be condemned,” Akume declared. The SGF made the remarks at an emergency camp housing survivors, following visits to both the affected community and a hospital treating the wounded.

He reassured the victims that attempts to annihilate any tribe are destined to fail. “No one can wipe out a tribe from the face of the earth. God Almighty will never permit it,” Akume stated.

Drawing on historical parallels, he referenced the Holocaust, where over six million Jews were murdered, yet the Jewish population rebounded. “They not only survived—they multiplied,” he said, underscoring the resilience of communities in the face of atrocity.

Akume appealed to the people of Benue, especially those in Yelewata, to hold on to peace despite the pain. “Let us not retaliate. Let us continue to walk the path of peace,” he urged.

He also reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to national unity and security. “President Tinubu will leave no stone unturned to ensure Nigerians can sleep in peace. He is fully committed to the sovereignty and unity of our nation,” the SGF affirmed.

Extending his condolences to the bereaved families, Akume encouraged them to stay hopeful and trust in the government’s support.

At the same event, former Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, condemned the brutality of the attacks. “Even in wartime, women and children are spared. Yet these assailants showed no mercy—even to infants,” he said in anguish.

Ogbeh described the victims as some of Nigeria’s most hardworking citizens—pillars of the nation’s food supply—and warned that no society could survive such sustained violence. He recalled Benue’s historic contributions during Nigeria’s civil war as proof of the state’s unwavering patriotism.

Senator Jacob Gyado also addressed the crowd, urging them to remain steadfast in their belief in President Tinubu’s leadership and the promises made by the federal government.

Earlier in the day, Akume had met with community leaders in Yelewata and surveyed the destruction firsthand.