Over 160 lives, including soldiers and a police officer, were lost in Benue in May alone due to sustained attacks by armed herdsmen. The violence has triggered protests, accusations of military indifference, and calls for self-defence by scholars and religious leaders.
- Victims Speak Out: Women protest killings, calling their land “a community of widows.”
- Mass Casualties: Major attacks recorded between May 2 and June 2 across multiple LGAs.
- Churches Affected: 15 Catholic parishes shut down; priests and congregants killed.
- Tiv Professors React: Call for community-led self-defence and security strategies.
- Experts warn of a deeper national crisis fuelled by sustained terror.
Benue State continues to reel from a protracted wave of violence that authorities seem unable—or unwilling—to contain. Communities are now not only mourning but also mobilising. Protesters, religious leaders, and academics all echo a shared sentiment: the state has failed them. And with the federal government silent, many are turning to self-help and grassroots security. This isn’t just a local crisis, it’s a humanitarian breakdown demanding urgent national attention.
If the government remains silent, the people of Benue may speak louder, with actions born out of desperation. Lives, land, and the future are at stake. It’s time for more than promises.
