…As Youths hold protest, accuse FG of silence
…Over 200 killed in latest Fulani bandit attacks on Yelewata, Daudu
….Pope Leo, Atiku, Obi condemn silence, demand justice

By Idowu Adebomi

Hundreds of angry youths took to the streets of Makurdi over the weekend, dressed in black and carrying fresh leaves, to protest the killing of more than 200 people in recent attacks across Benue State. The demonstrators described the violence as “genocide enabled by government complicity and silence.”

The protest, led mainly by residents of the affected communities of Yelewata and Daudu, began at Wurukum Roundabout and moved towards key government offices. The marchers, chanting mournful songs and wielding placards, demanded immediate protection from further violence, arrests of the perpetrators, and an end to what they said was the deliberate targeting of rural Christian communities.

One of the youth leaders at the protest, Mr Terwase Lawrence, said: “We are out here today to show the world that a genocide is being carried out in Benue State. Some people don’t want us to exist anymore.

“They are killing our young men and children, razing our houses, raping our women, and making our land desolate. We are saying no to this, and we can no longer condone these killings.”

…Over 2,600 dead in two months — Amnesty International

In a report released in March 2025, Amnesty International revealed that at least 135 attacks had occurred in Benue State between January and February of this year alone, resulting in more than 2,600 deaths—many of them women and children.

“Eighteen out of the 23 Local Government Areas in the state are currently under siege,” the organisation stated in its latest West Africa update. “This is a documented slaughter of an entire people.”

The Catholic Diocese of Makurdi also issued a report, signed by Archbishop Wilfred Anagbe, confirming that in 2023 alone, the state experienced 119 separate attacks on rural communities. These incidents left more than 400 people dead, with many others raped, maimed, or kidnapped.

The Diocese’s statement drew particular attention to the December 2023 massacre in several farming communities, some of which had already been housing displaced persons under Catholic Church care.

More recently, on 25 May 2025, at least 20 residents were killed in a coordinated attack on Aondona in Gwer West Local Government Area. On 12 June 2024, armed men attacked the North Bank area of Makurdi on Democracy Day, killing two and injuring 18. Both incidents were confirmed by security officials and the United Nations Displacement Tracking Matrix.

Despite these repeated attacks, there have been no significant arrests or prosecutions by either federal or state security agencies.

…Pope Leo prays for victims

In a recent Vatican broadcast following the mass killings in Benue, Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for peace and security in Nigeria.

“I pray that security, justice and peace will prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country afflicted by various forms of violence,” he said. “And I pray in particular for the rural Christian communities of Benue State, who are incessant victims of violence.”

The Pope acknowledged that many of those recently killed had already been displaced from their homes and were taking refuge in Catholic-run facilities.

…Atiku, Obi call for urgent action

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed profound sorrow over the killings in a statement released on Sunday.

“This assault on innocent Nigerians is not just a local tragedy; it is a national emergency that requires urgent, decisive action,” he said.

He urged both the Federal Government and the Benue State Government to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation, bring the perpetrators to justice, and step up security efforts.

“There must be the deployment of well-equipped security personnel, improved intelligence gathering, and proactive community protection, especially in vulnerable rural areas,” he added.

Mr Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, also condemned the violence in a statement shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.

“My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue—of women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons, all senselessly slain. Over 200 lives have reportedly been extinguished in a single onslaught, homes burnt, families shattered, communities left in ruin.”

“This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience,” he said. “We cannot accept the normalisation of mass killing. It is intolerable.”

Obi warned that Nigerians are witnessing a disturbing shift towards viewing mass murder as routine, accusing leaders of abandoning their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.

He called for urgent, tangible measures: “The time has come to move beyond symbolic gestures to decisive deployment. Let your actions speak louder than visits or statements.”

To the victims, he said: “Your pain is our pain. The blood of your loved ones cries out for justice. A safe, secure Benue is not too much to ask. It is our moral duty, our national duty. This is not the Nigeria we deserve, nor the Nigeria we aspire to. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity.”

…Government pledges response, protesters remain skeptical

The Benue State Government, in a statement from its security office, announced that tactical units had begun arriving to reinforce existing operations.

“Response Squad Teams are also deployed and will be in Benue from Sunday. Strategic community dialogues are ongoing to enhance active intelligence sharing,” the statement said.

However, many of the protesters remain unconvinced. Standing among the crowd, one demonstrator voiced the frustration shared by many:

“We’re dying in our own ancestral lands, and all they give us are words. How many more times do we have to beg to be allowed to live?”