Yesterday’s slaughter in Benue State by the killer Fulani terrorists herders that claimed over 200 lives has once again sent shockwaves across Nigeria. The brutality and senselessness of this violence are a grim reminder of the country’s ongoing struggle with incurable insecurity challenges.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s response to this spine chilling incidence that has attracted global condemnation was to urge the Governor of Benue State to make peace with the perpetrators over grazing issues. The response of President Tinibu is the dumbest response a proactive and people conscious leader has ever made. Strictly speaking, Tinubu’s abdicating response after unofficially flagging off his 2027 Presidential Re-Election Campaign raised serious questions about his priorities.
President Tinubu’s hollow lamentation is as tragic as the horrifying mass killings in Benue State. The statement quoted Tinubu as saying, “The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough. “I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.
“Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings.” The President said, “This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue. “Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony and differences are identified and addressed with fairness, openness and justice.”
This June 14th, 2025 mass murderer in Benue State is not an isolated event. On January 1, 2017, Fulani terrorists raised down several villages on a new year eve for daring to prevent cattle to graze over their land and crops in Benue State. In that singularly attack, over 200 people were slaughtered.
While conducting the mass burial, Prof Osinbajo literally danced elegantly on the blood and charred remains of Benue people slaughtered by marauder butchers. That was the climatic episode that revealed the hollowness of APC and VP Osinbajo’s make-believe preachment for peace outside justice.
On December 25th, 2024, suspected armed herders, on Christmas Day, attacked two communities in Benue State — killing 11 persons. The attacked communities were identified as Ityuluv, Tse Azege, and Innyiev Ya communities in the Mkomon district of Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. According to residents, the assailants struck as the villagers were celebrating Christmas festivities.
One resident, Terlumun, recounted the ordeal: “The terrorist herders came this afternoon while we were celebrating Christmas. They invaded our communities, killing people and burning houses.” Retired Comptroller of Prisons and President General of the Tiv socio-cultural group, Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide, Iorbee Ihagh, who hails from the area, also confirmed the attack.
“Eleven people were killed in the Christmas Day attack on Mkomon district in Kwande LGA,” Ihagh said. “Some are still missing as I speak to you.” He added, “Our people were celebrating Christmas when the Fulani herdsmen invaded the communities and attacked them.”
Dr. Daudu Ayu of Yelwata and Daudu communities in Goma Local Area of the state where the attacks took reproved President Tinubu’s terrorists patronizing comments as tragic. “I am alarmed that the president described the massacre as warring communities. Obviously, he perceives the genocide as farmers herders clashes.
“The Fulani islamic terrorists are the aggressors here and their goal is to annihilate indigenous communities and take over their ancestral lands, and they are gradually achieving their evil plan, unchallenged. The President needs to be properly briefed that Nigeria is under siege by Fulani islamic terrorists and that this is not herders/farmers clashes”.
To be sure — since 2009, Nigeria has lost over 500,000 lives to insurgency and herder-farmer conflicts— with Benue State being one of the hardest-hit regions. The Government’s consistent failure to address these issues effectively has emboldened attackers, who continue to strike with impunity each passing day.
President Tinubu’s incredible tolerance of these senseless killings by Fulani terrorists is tied to his ambition for a second term in 2027, which made the argument valid that his hollow ambition has been
prioritized over and above the lives of the nation’s citizens. The people of Benue State, and Nigeria demand more than just words; they need action. The Government must prioritize citizens’ safety and security over political interests. It’s time for decisive leadership that addresses the root causes of these conflicts and brings perpetrators to justice without delay.
For years, as the statistics are staggering; thousands of lives lost, countless families displaced, and communities torn apart, the Government merely sermonize daily in lamentation. The Government’s inaction has a human cost, and it’s time for accountability. The Benue massacre is a wake-up call for Nigeria. The Government must take concrete steps to address insecurity, protect citizens, and uphold justice. The lives of Nigerians should not be collateral damage for political ambition.
In the midst of Benue people facing existential threats, and mass massacres, you have a George Akume, sitting pretty in Aso Rock as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), while his people are slaughtered, daily.
Benue people have been calling for Akume’s exit in Tinubu’s dubious Cabinet, that prioritises falsehood — should I say — ethnicised Government that celebrates power drunkenness, antiquity, poverty, social strife and bloodbath! If power blindness holds up George Akume to remain in a hellish of Tinubu’s administration, the people of Benue State should be digging more mass graves.
Erasmus Ikhide contributed this piece via: ikhideluckyerasmus@gmail.com.
