The Presidency’s response to the ongoing mass killings in Benue State is not only disappointing but utterly reprehensible. Statements calling for the arrest of “perpetrators on all sides” and advocating for “dialogue and reconciliation” to bring peace to Benue are grossly disconnected from the grim reality on the ground.
The suggestion of dialogue with terrorists who slaughter innocent men, women, and children in the dead of night, destroying entire communities, is not only impractical but an insult to the victims. The Presidency has failed to identify these perpetrators, yet proposes negotiations as if the victims share responsibility for their own massacre.
Equally outrageous is the President’s assertion that “political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings.” This misplacement of blame suggests that the true threat lies in the words of grieving communities rather than the actions of terrorists who are systematically wiping out entire villages. Such rhetoric is not only misleading but perpetuates a dangerous narrative that dismisses the targeted nature of these attacks.
The people of Benue are not engaged in a mutual conflict—they are victims of a deliberate and brutal campaign of extermination. The Tinubu-led administration’s attempt to frame this mass slaughter as a two-sided dispute is both dishonest and disgraceful.
This clear bias insults the memory of those who have lost their lives and undermines the suffering of the entire North Central region. We demand an unequivocal condemnation of these terrorist acts, decisive action to protect vulnerable communities, and justice for the victims—not empty calls for dialogue or blame-shifting that emboldens the perpetrators.
The people of Benue deserve better. The people of North Central deserves better. Nigeria must stand against this genocide with clarity and resolve, not platitudes and excuses.
Chief Peter Ameh
Former National Chairman, IPAC.
2019 Ex-Presidential candidate
