Despite the mounting death toll and widespread displacement in Benue, the Tinubu-led federal government has remained largely unresponsive.

While a wave of brutal violence continues to engulf communities in Benue State, claiming more than 100 lives in the latest attack, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has maintained a conspicuous silence.

This silence stands in stark contrast to the government’s swift condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Iran, drawing criticisms from Nigerians who question the administration’s priorities.

On June 14, armed gunmen stormed Yelewata in Benue State, killing over 100 people in a gruesome overnight attack. According to Amnesty International, which issued a strongly-worded statement, the massacre left dozens injured, many still missing, and entire families 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.

In a report by SaharaReporters, it was revealed that three security operatives were also killed and 16 others injured during the Yelewata assault.

Just four days prior, on June 10, three youths were ambushed and killed in Edikwu-G’Icho, Apa Local Government Area (LGA).

In the same week, in Agatu LGA, one Sunday Dutse was killed along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu Road. He had earlier fled his community due to a previous attack and was reportedly living in a temporary refuge in another village.

Previously, while reacting to the escalating attacks in the state, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State told Channels Television that “we are under siege.”

According to him, intelligence reports suggest the attacks are not random but “directed, planned, and executed”—an alarming revelation that hints at a more sinister, coordinated operation against vulnerable communities.

“We are receiving intel, and 60 to 65 percent of it has proven accurate,” Governor Alia stated, categorizing the attacks as acts of terrorism rather than communal conflicts between herders and farmers.

Despite the mounting death toll and widespread displacement in Benue, the Tinubu-led federal government has remained largely unresponsive.

No official statement has been issued condemning the massacre or expressing condolences to the victims’ families.

Also, the presidency has failed to acknowledge the tragedy on its official platforms, including social media.

Ironically, the Nigerian government found time to comment on the Israel-Iran conflict. In a statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government condemned Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran and called for restraint.

“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 bodies continue to pile up and displaced communities struggle for survival, the silence from the Tinubu presidency speaks volumes.

Critics argue that while the government presents itself as a champion of peace on the global stage, it is failing to provide even the most basic security for its citizens at home.

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