Calls for Action After Benue's Yelewata Tragedy
The horror felt in Benue State is hard to overstate. On June 13, 2025, the quiet community of Yelewata turned into the nation’s latest tragedy. More than 200 people lost their lives, with many burnt so badly that families struggled to identify them. Hundreds are now without homes, left to wonder if help is truly coming. This single night added to an already grim year for Benue, where deadly violence has become all too familiar.
The response hasn’t just been shock or mourning—it’s led to an outpouring of anger and demands for real action. The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern CAN) is now urging President Bola Tinubu to ditch half-measures. Their message? It’s time for a full military crackdown, a total war on the gangs terrorizing Benue and other states. This isn’t just rhetoric—the group points to years of destruction and loss, especially in flashpoints like Gwer West and Agatu, where attacks seem relentless.
Government Response and Rising Frustration
President Tinubu, in the aftermath of the massacre, ordered security agencies to arrest everyone involved. He didn’t mince words with the Inspector General of Police during a heated meeting in Makurdi, pushing for immediate results. The Chief of Defence Staff has fresh orders to ramp up surveillance and work directly with local communities. In addition, Tinubu wants a peace committee in place—one made up of traditional rulers, federal leaders, and Benue’s non-indigenes—to try to tamp down tension and foster local dialogue.
But frustration is boiling over. Survivors and advocates alike are wondering why those tasked with keeping the peace failed to protect Yelewata. Amnesty International jumped into the fray, blasting the security response and highlighting reports that police and soldiers were in the area but did little as the attackers swept through. SBM Intelligence, which keeps a close watch on conflict numbers, reported a staggering 2,000 violent deaths across Nigeria just in the first quarter of 2025. Of those, 101 were in Benue alone—the kind of statistic that tells a grim story of repeated heartbreak.
Governor Hyacinth Alia didn’t hold back, labeling the killings as organized terrorism. Internal intelligence apparently flagged the risks with 60-65% accuracy, but those warnings fell short when it mattered. The United Nations has joined in condemnation, stressing the need for security reforms and justice. Groups like the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) are even pushing for these incidents to be handed to the International Criminal Court, arguing that the crimes may violate international law and demanding those responsible be brought to book.
The Benue Yelewata crisis isn’t isolated. Across central Nigeria, communities live in fear of further attacks, especially as armed gangs—often tied to herder-farmer disputes—roam with near impunity. As the calls for a total war grow louder, the pressure on President Tinubu’s government to show true resolve is at its highest. The question on everyone’s mind: will the federal response finally match the scale of the tragedy?
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