Benue Has No More Blood To Shed -By Jeff Okoroafor

The people of Benue State are bleeding, yet their cries seem to fall on deaf ears. The recent massacre of over 200 innocent villagers by Fulani herdsmen militia in the Guma and Logo local government areas is not just another headline—it is a devastating testament to the failure of leadership at both the state and federal levels.

For years, Benue has been a killing field, its fertile lands watered not just by rain but by the blood of its people. Farmers are butchered in their sleep, women are raped and murdered, children are orphaned, and entire communities are wiped out. Yet, despite the relentless violence, President Bola Tinubu’s government has maintained an eerie silence, offering neither decisive action nor meaningful condemnation. Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia, who promised security and prosperity, appears overwhelmed, his administration lacking the urgency and strategy needed to protect his people.

Benue State has suffered more than most from the relentless attacks of armed Fulani herdsmen. The recent massacre is not an isolated incident but part of a long-standing campaign of terror aimed at displacing indigenous communities and seizing their lands. The state’s anti-open grazing law, enacted to curb clashes between farmers and herders, has only made Benue a bigger target, as the herdsmen—armed with sophisticated weapons—continue their rampage with impunity.

The federal government’s inaction is baffling. Where is the military? Where are the police? Where is the president? Tinubu, who swore an oath to protect every Nigerian, has been quick to comment on political matters but remains disturbingly silent on the genocide in Benue. His inaction sends a clear message: the lives of Benue’s farmers and villagers do not matter as much as political calculations.

Governor Hyacinth Alia rode into office on a wave of hope, promising to tackle insecurity and bring development to Benue. But today, his leadership is looking more like a tragic disappointment. Where is his voice? Where is his outrage? A governor’s primary responsibility is the security of his people, yet Alia has failed to mount any serious resistance or even articulate a clear plan to end the killings.

Instead of rallying national and international attention to Benue’s plight, Alia seems more focused on political maneuvering. His administration’s response has been tepid—issuing press releases, setting up committees, and making empty promises. Benue needs action, not bureaucracy. If he cannot protect his people, then what is the purpose of his governorship?

The Nigerian government’s failure to decisively confront these killers raises troubling questions. Why are Fulani militias allowed to operate so freely? Why are they never arrested or prosecuted? Why does the military appear reluctant to crush these terrorists the way it does in the Southeast or the Niger Delta?

Some have accused the federal government of tacitly supporting the herdsmen, seeing their violence as a tool for ethnic domination. Whether true or not, the perception persists because of the glaring double standard in security operations. Bandits and terrorists in the North are sometimes “negotiated” with, while other regions face brutal crackdowns for lesser offenses.

What Must Be Done?

1. President Tinubu Must Break His Silence – The president must address the nation, condemn the killings, and order a full-scale military operation to flush out the herdsmen militia. Anything less is an endorsement of the violence.

2. Governor Alia Must Step Up or Step Down – If Alia cannot secure Benue, he should either seek federal intervention more aggressively or admit his failure.

3. International Pressure is Needed – The world must not turn a blind eye to this genocide. Human rights organizations and foreign governments should demand accountability from Nigeria’s leaders.

4. Community Defense Mechanisms – Since the government has failed, Benue’s people must organize local protection forces, legally armed and trained, to defend their lands.

How many more mass graves must be dug before Nigeria wakes up? How many more widows and orphans must be created before the government acts? Benue has no more blood to shed. The time for empty condolences is over. The time for action is now—before there is no Benue left to save.

If Nigeria cannot protect its own citizens, then it has failed as a nation. And if our leaders remain silent while their people are slaughtered, then history will judge them as accomplices to genocide.

Enough is enough. It’s time to Redefine Nigeria.

Jeff Okoroafor

Jeff Okoroafor is a social accountability advocate and a political commentator focused on governance, accountability, and social justice in West Africa.