THE MOST pressing issue in Nigeria today is the urgent need to stop the senseless killings in Benue and other parts of the country. While some may aim to vote out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to his lacklustre performance, the campaign to end these atrocities must take precedence over political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What good is a government that fails to secure its territory and protect its citizens? The safety of the people should be the top priority — not political calculations.
The Yelwata massacre marked the third attack in Benue State within just 60 days. Each time, the response had been predictable: empty platitudes and blame-shifting. What is often overlooked, however, is the psychological trauma inflicted on survivors — people who have lost everything and witnessed unimaginable horror. Their suffering demands more than words; it requires action and support.
Nigeria’s social contract has broken down, as the state has abandoned its duty to safeguard its citizens. The recurring bloodshed in Benue and the Middle Belt is a grim reminder of this failure. Senseless killings across the country have traumatized countless Nigerians.
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Some may believe their region is safe, but that is a dangerous illusion. When tragedy strikes, we often think of “the other person’s” plight. The harsh reality is that no one is truly safe in today’s Nigeria.
President Tinubu’s visit to Yelwata appears to be a hollow gesture, with some suspecting it is driven by 2027 political ambitions rather than genuine concern. Innocent Nigerians are tired of being pawns in politicians’ games. How many more deaths will it take to jolt the government into action? How many tears must be shed before the government awakens? Is the pain still not enough?
Were it not for the words of the Tor Tiv, there would have been nothing in the president’s statement worth anyone’s time. The traditional ruler spoke extensively about the situation in Benue, eloquently articulating the people’s pain, suffering, and losses. One could see the anguish on his face.
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How much more suffering must innocent Nigerians endure? The government’s strategy seems to prioritize politics over people’s lives. Are the lives lost merely sacrifices for the political class’s gain? Under the APC government, everything bad has worsened, and everything good has turned bad.
With this gruesome attack, the dreams of the Yelwata people have been shattered, their hopes brutally extinguished. Horror, despair, and hopelessness loom large. Meanwhile, the president — who should shed tears, express remorse, and acknowledge his failure to fulfil his duty — only nibbled at a grave issue: the highest crime a government can commit against its people.
The greatest crime a government can commit is failing to protect its citizens, leaving them vulnerable. Repeated successful attacks and killings have proven to the perpetrators that the government either does not care or lacks the capacity to defend its people.
In what should have been a solemn atmosphere, some fools applauded certain remarks by the president. Was their clapping an endorsement of death’s triumph over the people or of the APC’s deceit in the land? Their applause only underscores the nation’s deepening crisis.
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The Yelwata massacre marked the third attack in Benue State within just 60 days. Each time, the response had been predictable: empty platitudes and blame-shifting. What is often overlooked, however, is the psychological trauma inflicted on survivors — people who have lost everything and witnessed unimaginable horror. Their suffering demands more than words; it requires action and support.
Just as citizens can be held accountable for crimes against the state, the state itself can commit crimes against its citizens. But who holds the state accountable when it fails its people? Today, Nigeria’s political class undermines the judiciary, disregarding court orders and laws that contradict their interests.
Ironically, the security situation today is far worse than it was under Jonathan. Hundreds of Nigerians are being killed incessantly. The contrast between past rhetoric and present reality raises serious questions about accountability and leadership. This APC government, led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has failed in every regard.
When governments fail to protect citizens from terrorism, suspicions of complicity or conspiracy arise. The lack of accountability erodes trust and fuels speculation. Who will demand justice from those in power? Reports consistently show that locals often alert security forces days before attacks occur, yet the assaults still happen. By the time security forces arrive, the worst damage has already been done. This raises serious questions about the effectiveness of our security apparatus.
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With a substantial annual defence budget, what tangible benefits are Nigerians actually receiving? Where is the protection and security they deserve? As insecurity worsens across Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has again demonstrated its inability to effectively combat banditry, killings, kidnappings, and the general state of lawlessness.
President Tinubu and his allies once heavily criticized Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of security. Notably, current Vice President Kashim Shettima, then governor of Borno State, reopened schools despite intelligence warnings, leaving the Chibok girls vulnerable to abduction.
Ironically, the security situation today is far worse than it was under Jonathan. Hundreds of Nigerians are being killed incessantly. The contrast between past rhetoric and present reality raises serious questions about accountability and leadership. This APC government, led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has failed in every regard.
Amechi, a trade unionist and pro-democracy activist, writes from Lagos.
