President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday, expressed deep concern over the renewed spate of killings in Benue State, describing the massacre of over 200 persons as “depressing” and declaring that the bloodshed must stop.
The president, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, directed security chiefs to act decisively in restoring peace to the state. He also tasked Governor Hyacinth Alia to convene reconciliation meetings among the warring factions to pave the way for lasting peace and harmonious coexistence.
“The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue. Enough is enough,” Tinubu said, adding that political and community leaders must avoid inciting remarks that could escalate tensions.
The attacks occurred between the night of June 13 and early June 14 in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, with victims including internally displaced persons (IDPs) housed in a Catholic mission hospital. Security agencies have since been deployed to the area to take control of the situation.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), covering the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has called on President Tinubu to declare a total war on criminal elements terrorising communities in Benue and neighbouring states. In a statement by its Secretary General, Sunday Oibe, CAN described the situation as unacceptable and lamented the rising death toll in the Middle Belt.
Pope Leo XIV, during Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, joined the chorus of condemnation, describing the massacre as a “terrible” and “cruel” tragedy. The pope offered solemn prayers for the victims and called on Nigerian authorities to protect the dignity and safety of all citizens, especially rural Christian communities repeatedly targeted in the region.
“I pray that security, justice, and peace prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country so affected by various forms of violence,” the pope stated, urging international solidarity for the affected.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a strongly worded statement, expressed anguish over the attacks and urged the federal government to launch a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“These killings underscore the escalating insecurity crisis in our nation. I urge the government to increase security presence and support for affected communities,” Atiku said.
Also reacting, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, decried the incident as a “failure of leadership,” warning that the normalisation of mass killings was fast becoming Nigeria’s reality.
“This tragedy is not merely violence. It is a stain on our collective conscience,” Obi said, calling for a national emergency to tackle the crisis.
In a stern warning, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) accused the federal government of inaction and warned of an impending ethnic crisis if the killings continued unchecked. The group, in a statement by National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, condemned the massacre as a crime against humanity and held security agencies accountable for failing to act on prior intelligence.
Meanwhile, angry Benue youths staged a protest at Wurukum Roundabout in Makurdi on Sunday, demanding urgent intervention from both state and federal governments. The protest turned tense when security operatives fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
The police commissioner in the state, Emenari Ifeanyi, attempted to address the protesters but was met with resistance and chants demanding immediate action against the attackers.
Activists and civil society leaders have called for sustained pressure and peaceful protests to compel authorities to act. One of them, Comrade Bemgba Iyortyum, urged the youths to remain peaceful and resolute in demanding justice.
As outrage continues to mount both locally and internationally, pressure is growing on the federal government to provide lasting solutions to the recurring violence in Benue State and other parts of Nigeria plagued by insecurity.
Nzubechukwu Eze
