The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Benue State, following the latest wave of deadly attacks allegedly carried out by suspected armed herdsmen.
In a statement released on Wednesday, NANS Vice President for Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Akinbodunse Sileola Felicia, described the killings in Yelwata community as coordinated and bearing signs of ethnic cleansing.
She warned that Nigeria risks descending into a genocidal crisis similar to the 1994 Rwandan genocide if urgent action is not taken. “The only way to stop these heinous killings is by declaring a state of emergency,” the statement read.
NANS expressed concern over the continued failure of security agencies to prevent or respond effectively to such attacks. It urged the Federal Government to take decisive steps to protect lives and restore peace, not just in Benue but also in Plateau and other states facing similar violence.
“We strongly condemn the recent massacre in Yelwata, where over 200 innocent people, including children, were brutally killed. This is a barbaric act that amounts to genocide and ethnic cleansing,” the statement added.
The student body called on the government to act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed and restore law and order in affected communities.
