Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has made a bold plea to the United States government: expand its military air campaign to Benue State to eliminate the terrorists and armed groups currently “overrunning” local communities.
Speaking at a cross-party political consultation dinner in Makurdi on Friday, January 2, 2026, Aondoakaa argued that the recent US precision strikes in Sokoto—carried out late on Christmas Day 2025—should have started in Benue.
“There are terrorists in Benue State. The US air strikes are long overdue here,” Aondoakaa declared, lamenting that armed groups masquerading as herders have occupied ancestral lands and displaced thousands. He specifically cited the horrific massacre in the Yelwata community, where approximately 200 people were reportedly killed in a single day.
Aondoakaa, who has officially launched his 2027 Benue State Road Map, used the platform to criticize the current state administration for “insensitivity” toward security challenges. He pledged that if elected Governor in 2027, the safety of lives and property would be his administration’s absolute priority.
The event featured high-profile attendance from across the political spectrum, including former Governor Samuel Ortom, who praised Aondoakaa’s “clean record” and experience. Aondoakaa also commended President Bola Tinubu for coordinating with US intelligence for the Sokoto strikes and called for similar sustained federal support for Benue.