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Benue Killings: Consider voluntary resignation, forum tells Tinubu

Published 10 hours ago2 minute read

Following the recent massacre of over 100 Nigerians in Benue State, the Unified Nigeria Youth Forum (UNYF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider voluntary resignation, saying that the President failed in his constitutional duty to protect the lives of the people.

Citing Chapter Two, Sections two and three of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the forum maintained that sovereignty belongs to the people and that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

In a statement on Thursday, UNYF President, Comrade Toriah Olajide Filani, stated that the continuous killings of Nigerians under President Tinubu’s watch are a breach of this constitutional mandate.

Filani further demanded the immediate resignation or sack of all service chiefs, the National Security Adviser, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, citing what it described as a gross failure of leadership and dereliction of constitutional duty.

He argued that in line with global best democratic practices, public officials under whose watch such mass killings occur must take responsibility and vacate office.

He also called for a complete overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, describing President Tinubu’s condolence visit to the state as hollow and politically motivated.

He noted that the President’s visit failed to address the enormity of the humanitarian crisis on the ground and lacked any tangible commitment to security or relief intervention.

Filani added that the killings in Benue have reportedly claimed over 360 lives and displaced more than 6,500 persons in the past month alone, a development he said demanded a coordinated military response and political will, not ceremonial visits.

He insisted that Benue does not need presidential optics but decisive leadership and swift security interventions.

He said, “Reconciliation without justice would embolden the killers, deepen the wounds of affected communities, and erode public trust in governance. This carnage must not be treated as a political issue but as a national emergency requiring firm, transparent, and accountable responses.”

While calling for the identification and prosecution of all perpetrators under relevant sections of the Criminal Code and Penal Code to reinforce the principle of zero tolerance for impunity, Filani urged the federal government to provide adequate compensation and psychological support to bereaved families, in accordance with Section 35 of the Constitution and international human rights standards.

He called for a nationwide review of the security sector, with an emphasis on community-based security strategies and reform of existing laws related to justice, policing, and human rights.

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The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
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