Shola Akinyele
More than 200 Nigerians have reportedly been killed in a fresh wave of violent attacks across Benue State, yet 48 hours after the massacre, there has been no word from the presidency and no declaration of a state of emergency.
The silence from Aso Rock and Governor Hyacinth Alia has sparked widespread national outrage, with many Nigerians accusing the government of selective response and dangerous negligence.
Viral videos circulating on social media have added fuel to the anger, including disturbing footage allegedly showing police vehicles escorting herds of cattle through the streets of Makurdi’s Welfare Quarters.
“Benue State government is now escorting cows in Makurdi,” a local man is heard lamenting in one of the widely shared clips, as security forces trail behind livestock in the night.
Prominent voices across the country have spoken out, including Benue-born music legend Innocent “2Baba” Idibia, who took to social media to condemn the killings and call for immediate action.
“This is a national emergency,” he said. “Over 200 of my people are dead and Abuja is still silent. We can’t keep reconciling with terrorists and expect peace. There must be a declaration of a state of emergency now.”
A leaked voice note from a serving Nigerian Army captain has also gone viral, raising alarms about the government’s controversial policy of integrating so-called “repentant” bandits and terrorists into the military. The officer expressed deep frustration, saying, “We are arming those who once slaughtered innocent Nigerians, and now they’re in uniform. Meanwhile, entire villages are left unprotected.”
One of the most heartbreaking stories emerging from the carnage is that of Tsegba Lucy, a young woman who lost her mother and four sisters in the Yelwata massacre. “My entire family was wiped out in one day,” she said. Her pain echoes across Benue communities where hundreds of families are now grieving, displaced, and living in fear.
Nigerians have also drawn comparisons between the government’s indifference toward Benue and its swift response to a political feud in Port Harcourt. A minor clash between the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and a political associate recently prompted an immediate state of emergency in Rivers State. “So, when political elites clash, we get emergency declarations, but when over 200 ordinary citizens are massacred, we get silence?” one Twitter user posted. “This country has clearly been hijacked for a few.”
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