In the early hours of June 13, 2025, horror returned to Benue State as suspected armed herdsmen launched coordinated attacks on Daudu and Yelewata communities in Guma Local Government Area.
Residents say the scale and savagery of the violence surpassed anything in recent memory. Homes were set ablaze with people trapped inside.
Entire families were butchered, children, the elderly, and even military personnel deployed to safeguard the area were not spared.
While official figures from the Benue State Government confirmed 59 deaths, local reports—including from witnesses and humanitarian responders—claim that the actual death toll may exceed 200.
This included many who had already been displaced by earlier waves of conflict and had sought refuge in makeshift shelters.
“They were burnt beyond recognition,” said one local rescuer. “We couldn’t tell which body belonged to whom.”
The scale of devastation has renewed outrage across Nigeria and reignited calls for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Benue, a state that has become synonymous with deadly conflict between farmers and herders.
Federal Response: Strong Words, Weak Actions
President Tinubu responded to the tragedy by reiterating his directive to security chiefs to take immediate and decisive action.
In a statement, the Presidency assured Nigerians that “ending the killings in Benue is a priority” and that service chiefs had been tasked with “restoring peace and order.”
I have been briefed on the senseless bloodletting in Benue State.
Enough is enough! I have directed the security agencies to act decisively, arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict, and prosecute them.
Political and community leaders in Benue State…
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) June 15, 2025
But these words, while familiar, no longer inspire confidence. Critics argue that federal interventions have been reactive, fragmented, and inadequate.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was among the loudest voices condemning the killings, stating, “We must hold leaders accountable.”
His sentiment echoes the widespread frustration that Nigeria’s leadership, despite years of escalating bloodshed in the Middle Belt, has yet to craft or enforce a coherent long-term solution.
Governor Alia Under Fire
Benue’s Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has also come under intense scrutiny.
While he visited affected areas and confirmed the deaths of dozens, his administration has faced criticism for allegedly suppressing peaceful protests that erupted in the wake of the killings.
Youths took to the streets in Makurdi, blocking major highways and demanding justice and protection.
