As brutal violence sweeps through communities in Benue State, claiming over 200 lives in the latest attack, the Bola Tinubu administration has remained noticeably silent.
This silence has sparked outrage among Nigerians, especially as it sharply contrasts with the government’s quick condemnation of Israel’s military operations in Iran—raising serious questions about the Tinubu administration’s sense of national priority.
The latest massacre occurred on June 14, when armed attackers invaded Yelewata, Benue State, unleashing terror that left over 100 people dead. Amnesty International, in a strongly worded statement, reported that dozens were injured, many are still missing, and several families were burned alive in their homes.
“The horrifying killing of over 100 people by gunmen that invaded Yelewata from late Friday into the early hours of Saturday shows the security measures government claims to be implementing in the state are not working,” the statement read.
Amnesty further highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis, stating that “the Nigerian authorities must immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue State and bring the actual perpetrators to justice.”
The human rights group warned that the persistent violence is displacing thousands and threatening food security, as most of the victims are subsistence farmers.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, the Yelewata massacre also claimed the lives of three security operatives, with 16 others injured during the deadly assault.
Just days earlier, on June 10, three young men were ambushed and killed in Edikwu-G’Icho, located in Apa Local Government Area (LGA). That same week, in Agatu LGA, another resident, Sunday Dutse, was murdered along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu Road. Dutse had previously fled his home due to earlier attacks and was seeking refuge in a nearby village when he was killed.
Reacting to the growing wave of violence, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia told Channels Television, “We are under siege.” He revealed that intelligence reports suggest these attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a “directed, planned, and executed” campaign—an ominous sign of a coordinated assault on vulnerable communities.
“We are receiving intel, and 60 to 65 percent of it has proven accurate,” Governor Alia said, categorizing the violence as terrorism rather than mere clashes between herders and farmers.
Yet, despite the rising death toll, mass displacements, and growing fear in Benue State, the Tinubu administration has remained silent. No official statement has been issued, no condolences offered, and the presidency has not acknowledged the tragedy on any of its official platforms, including social media.
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Ironically, while ignoring the massacre at home, the Nigerian government found time to address the Israel-Iran conflict. In a statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria condemned Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran and urged restraint—further fueling public outrage over the administration’s apparent misplaced priorities.
“Nigeria expresses its grave concern and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urges both parties to exercise utmost restraint in the interest of regional and global peace,” the statement read.
“We reiterate that military action is not a substitute for negotiation.”
This move has drawn backlash from citizens, who feel that the government is more concerned with international diplomacy than with domestic security.
“Oga let’s officially condemn the killings in plateau state and Benue state first. Let’s practice the Nigerian first policy. Let’s first take out the spec in our eyes before attempting to take out the log in another man’s eyes?” Bassey Etienam (@bazijoy) wrote on X, reflecting a sentiment shared widely on social media.
A report recently released by SBM Intelligence indicates that at least 2,000 Nigerians were killed in the first quarter of 2025 alone, with Benue State recording 101 deaths, placing it among the worst-affected regions. The report also noted that 136 security personnel died during the same period.
As the death toll rises and displaced communities fight to survive, the deafening silence from the Tinubu presidency grows more damning.
Critics contend that while the government postures as a voice of peace in international affairs, it has woefully neglected its fundamental duty of safeguarding the lives and security of its own people.
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