By Olatunbosun Obafemi
President Bola Tinubu has condemned the mass killing of civilians in Benue State as “very depressing,” vowing to end the bloodshed and restore security to the troubled region.
Nearly 200 people, many of them internally displaced persons receiving care from a Catholic mission, were killed in coordinated night attacks between June 13 and 14 in Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area.
In a statement by his media adviser, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu ordered security and intelligence chiefs to immediately implement measures to end the killings and bring perpetrators to justice.
He also directed Governor Hyacinth Alia to convene urgent reconciliation meetings between the warring communities to foster lasting peace. “We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough,” Tinubu said.
The attacks have drawn sharp national and international condemnation. At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV mourned the victims, describing the massacre as a “terrible tragedy committed with extreme cruelty.” He prayed for peace in Nigeria, especially its embattled Christian rural communities. “I pray for security, justice, and peace to prevail in Nigeria,” he said, calling the nation “beloved but so affected by various forms of violence.”
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the FCT called on Tinubu to declare total war on terrorists. It decried the deteriorating security situation not only in Benue but also in Borno State, where Boko Haram activities have recently resurged. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the killings as a “national emergency” and urged increased military presence in vulnerable rural areas. Labour Party’s Peter Obi blamed the carnage on systemic leadership failure, warning against the growing normalisation of mass violence.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) accused the government of gross negligence, warning that ethnic groups may resort to armed self-defense if the killings persist. It described the massacre as a crime against humanity.
In Makurdi, angry youths protesting the killings at Wurukum Roundabout were dispersed with tear gas by police. They refused to be addressed by the state’s police commissioner, demanding action instead. Deputy Governor Sam Ode, who visited the affected communities, assured residents of increased federal support and tactical deployments.
The massacre has reignited urgent calls for decisive leadership, justice, and meaningful peacebuilding in Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt.
