LAGOS, 15 June 2025 – Nigeria is reeling from a horrific massacre in Benue State, where over 200 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were brutally killed in a coordinated night attack in Yelewata. The tragedy, which saw victims burned alive, butchered, and ambushed, has been met with deafening silence from President Bola Tinubu, prompting widespread condemnation and questions about his leadership.
The attack, described as “tragic, terrifying, and unacceptable,” targeted vulnerable IDPs who had fled their homes seeking safety. In a second assault, soldiers responding to the crisis were also killed. The majority of the victims were defenceless civilians, hunted down in a place meant to offer refuge. Yet, more than 48 hours after the slaughter, President Tinubu has neither visited Benue – a mere one-hour flight or four-hour drive from Abuja – nor issued a statement of condolence to the grieving families.
This inaction stands in stark contrast to the president’s swift responses to international incidents. Within hours of an India Air plane crash, Tinubu sent a message of commiseration to the Indian government. Similarly, following Israel’s attack on Iran, he promptly urged de-escalation and appealed for peace. Critics are now questioning why a “bloody, brutal massacre” in Nigeria’s own North Central region has failed to elicit even a word from the president.
“What kind of insensitive madness is this?” asked a prominent Nigerian commentator, echoing the sentiments of many. “How do we care about events in Iran and India, but turn a blind eye to the slaughter of over 200 Nigerians in Benue?”
The Yelewata attack has exposed glaring failures in Nigeria’s security apparatus, particularly along the Benue-Nasarawa corridor. Calls are mounting for security agencies to urgently re-evaluate their strategies to protect vulnerable communities in the region. “The perpetrators of this heinous act must be brought to justice,” insisted a Benue-based activist, who also extended condolences to Governor Hyacinth Alia and the people of Benue State.
The massacre has reignited debates about President Tinubu’s priorities and competence, with many labelling him “insensitive” and “incompetent.” As the nation mourns, the absence of leadership from Abuja has only deepened the anguish of Benue’s residents, who feel abandoned in the face of unimaginable loss.
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