By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Bola Tinubu sleeping and |
More than 24 hours after armed herders slaughtered over 200 villagers in Yelewata, Benue State, President Bola Tinubu has accused political leaders of “fuelling the crisis” with reckless statements, while urging Governor Hyacinth Alia to lead reconciliation efforts.
In a late Sunday statement by his spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu condemned the massacre as “inhuman and anti-progress,” calling on leaders to avoid “inflammatory utterances” that could worsen tensions.
“Governor Alia must act as a statesman and immediately begin dialogue to restore peace in Benue,” Tinubu declared, ordering security forces to hunt down the killers.
The attack, which began late Friday and continued into Saturday, has drawn global condemnation.
Pope Leo XIV called it a “terrible massacre” during his Sunday mass, praying for grieving families.
Amnesty International slammed Nigeria’s government, stating: “The horrifying killings prove security measures in Benue are failing. Without urgent action, more lives will be lost.”
Peter Obi, Labour Party leader, blamed Tinubu directly: “This is leadership failure. Over 200 lives lost in one attack—what kind of nation are we building?”
Critics question why Tinubu’s response came over a day after the massacre, with opposition figures and rights groups demanding accountability.
“We cannot normalize mass killings,” Obi warned, calling for immediate federal intervention.
As Benue mourns, pressure mounts on Tinubu’s administration to end the cycle of violence—or face growing backlash from citizens and the international community.