Former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed deep sorrow over the recent massacre in Yelwata, Benue State, where scores were killed, and urged Nigerians to demand accountability from their leaders.
In a statement posted on his X account Saturday night, Atiku described the killings as yet another grim reminder of the worsening security situation in Nigeria.
“I am deeply anguished and shocked by the devastating news of the fresh attacks in Benue State, where over 100 innocent lives are feared lost. These killings, once again targeting defenceless communities, underscore the escalating insecurity crisis facing our nation,” he stated.
He said the anguish of those left orphaned, displaced, or widowed by the attacks is beyond words. “My thoughts and prayers are with the families and communities who have suffered unimaginable loss. As a nation, we must pause and reflect on the mounting human toll of this senseless violence,” Atiku added.
Calling for urgent government intervention, he urged authorities to act swiftly and decisively. “I urge the Federal Government and Benue State authorities to launch a prompt, transparent investigation into the attack. The identities of the perpetrators must be swiftly uncovered and justice served.”
Atiku also called for stronger security measures to protect vulnerable communities, noting that, “Necessary resources, personnel, equipment, and intelligence must be deployed to guarantee the protection of vulnerable rural areas.”
He emphasised the importance of engaging with communities to rebuild confidence, calling for “dialogue, traditional leadership, and civil society to restore confidence and foster resilience.”
In addition, he urged immediate support for the victims. “Compensation and support efforts, including medical aid, trauma counselling, and livelihood restoration, should be accelerated for survivors and bereaved families.”
Atiku concluded, “This assault on innocent Nigerians is not just a local tragedy; it is a national emergency that demands immediate attention and decisive action. I call on all Nigerians, regardless of tribe or religion, to unite in condemning this atrocity. We must hold our leaders accountable and insist on sustainable solutions to the violent tragedies claiming lives across the country. May God comfort the grieving families, heal our nation, and help us reclaim peace and security for all.”
Obi slams govt over Benue killings
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also strongly condemned the killings, describing the attacks as evidence of Nigeria’s growing leadership failure.
In a statement on his X account Sunday, Obi said, “My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue of women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons, all senselessly slain. This tragedy has become too common in our national life, and the Benue situation now calls for a national emergency.”
He described the scale of the killings as going far beyond isolated acts of violence, saying: “Over 200 lives have reportedly been extinguished in a single onslaught, homes burnt, families shattered, communities left in ruin. This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience.”
Obi criticised government inaction, saying, “The primary duty of any government, federal, state, or local is to protect lives and property. When it repeatedly fails, we must ask: What kind of nation are we bequeathing to our children?”
He further lamented the rising normalisation of mass killings: “Every life lost is a Nigerian life, each one precious, each one irreplaceable. We cannot accept the normalisation of mass killing. It is intolerable.”
Offering his condolences, Obi said, “To the people of Benue, I say: your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice. The survival of our people must not be negotiable; it must be urgent, deliberate, and comprehensive action.”
He also called on authorities to take concrete steps beyond mere words. “To all relevant authorities, I say that the time has come to move beyond symbolic gestures to decisive deployment. Let your actions speak louder than visits or statements. A safe, secure Benue is not too much to ask, it is our moral duty, our national duty.”
In closing, Obi declared: “This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity.”
The Yelwata Benue Massacre and Protests
On June 14, 2025, armed men, believed to be herders, stormed Yelwata in Benue State, killing scores, including women, children, and security personnel. Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attack, stating, “Nothing should warrant the taking of life.”
In response, angry youths gathered at the Wurukum food basket roundabout in Makurdi early Sunday morning, protesting what they described as government silence.
One protester, Solomon Amande, voiced the frustration of many: “Benue youths are angry at the deafening silence of President Bola Tinubu, and the governor of Benue State, despite the killing of children, women, and the elderly.”
When Benue State Deputy Governor Sam Ode attempted to address the protesters, they rejected him, insisting that only Governor Alia himself should appear.
Tensions heightened when security forces tried to disperse the crowd, resorting to tear gas as clashes escalated.
