President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to visit Benue State today (Wednesday), following the brutal killing of over 200 villagers by suspected herdsmen in the Yelewata community. The attack, which occurred last Friday, has been described as one of the deadliest massacres in the state’s recent history.
Tinubu had earlier announced plans to reschedule his engagements to pay a condolence visit to the grieving communities. However, public criticism has mounted over what many see as his delayed response to the crisis, despite the escalating violence and mounting death toll.
The President also faced backlash for urging Governor Hyacinth Alia to initiate reconciliation talks between affected communities, a move critics say falls short of the urgent security intervention needed to curb the killings.
Meanwhile, the wave of terror is no longer confined to Benue. Reports indicate that similar attacks by armed herdsmen have spread to Enugu and Abia States, intensifying fears and panic among residents.
In Enugu, over 10 people were reportedly killed on Sunday in Aguamede, Eha-Amufu, in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers—believed to be herdsmen—carried out the assault silently, using machetes rather than firearms. One community source alleged that a helicopter was seen hovering over the area earlier in the day, sparking suspicions that the attackers may have been air-dropped.
A similar assault took place last week in Mbuji, Eha-Amufu, where four residents were killed. Between 2017 and 2022, over 123 people have reportedly died in Eha-Amufu alone due to repeated attacks by suspected herdsmen.
The violence has also reached Abia State. Armed assailants recently invaded communities in Umunneochi and Isuikwuato, leaving several people dead. On Monday, Abia State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, confirmed the Umunneochi incident during a press briefing at the Government House in Umuahia.
“There have been some security breaches in the Umunneochi area of the state, leading to some fatalities,” Kanu said, noting that security forces have been placed on high alert.
Residents of the affected areas described terrifying scenes of late-night raids, where gunmen stormed villages, opened fire indiscriminately, and set homes ablaze. Local vigilante groups were overwhelmed, and many villagers fled into surrounding bushes for safety.
Amid growing national anxiety, human rights lawyer and former UN Special Rapporteur, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, urged the federal government to act decisively.
“The tragedy in Benue reflects the deepening insecurity across the country,” Ezeilo said in a statement on Tuesday. She called for a thorough investigation and swift justice for the victims. “Every Nigerian life matters. The government must act decisively and transparently to restore peace and rebuild trust.”
Security analyst Dr. Kabiru Adamu, Managing Director of Beacon Consulting Limited, also weighed in, describing the President’s visit as a political, rather than security, move.
“While it may help reduce political tension in the state, it does not address the core security challenge,” Adamu said. “There are multiple political factions even within the ruling APC—between the governor, the SGF, and remnants of the opposition PDP. The visit might calm nerves temporarily, but what’s truly needed is a comprehensive and effective security strategy.”
As tensions rise and the violence continues to spread, Nigerians await concrete actions from President Tinubu beyond condolence visits and political gestures.
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