Last week, Nigeria was confronted with one of its most harrowing tragedies in recent memory as over 200 people, mostly women and children, were brutally killed in the Yelewata area of Benue State by suspected Fulani bandits.
The killings, part of a wave of violence that has plagued communities across the region for years without effective intervention, reached a breaking point when outraged youths from Benue stormed the capital in protest. Despite facing harassment from security forces, they successfully delivered a powerful message: the people have had enough.
The situation worsened as fresh reports of similar attacks emerged from Plateau and Enugu states, where more lives were lost in what many now describe as a coordinated campaign of terror across the countrys Middle Belt and southeast regions.
Amid mounting public criticism over the federal governments slow response, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced plans to visit Benue on Wednesday, nearly a week after the massacre. Critics say the delay underscores a broader pattern of neglect and indifference.
It is worth noting that at least 80 heavily armed bandit gangs are currently operating across Nigerias northwest. Their activities have triggered a humanitarian emergency, displaced thousands, and terrorised rural communities with little resistance. Despite the scale of the crisis, decisive national action remains elusive.
In the wake of the presidents planned visit, the move by Benue State Governor, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia, to declare a public holiday and invite residents to welcome President Tinubu joyfully has been widely criticised as tone-deaf. Many citizens argue that, in light of the massacre, the president should be received with symbols of mourning, black clothes and leaves, as a stark reminder of the lives lost.
Critics have questioned Governor Alias empathy, suggesting his detachment from the human toll of the violence is deeply troubling. They have pointed out that even religious leaders like Pope Leo have shown more compassion in times of tragedy.
Observers warn that if President Tinubus visit amounts only to ceremonial handshakes and empty platitudes, without concrete steps to prevent further bloodshed, it will serve no meaningful purpose.
In the past few months alone, bandits have brought down a military aircraft, attacked the Nigerian Defence Academy, ambushed a high-profile commuter train between Abuja and Kaduna, and kidnapped countless schoolchildren for ransom. Despite multiple presidential visits to affected areas, no significant progress has been recorded.
President Tinubus recent comments suggesting dialogue with bandits have drawn fierce backlash. Many Nigerians see it as an unserious proposal, arguing that negotiating with terrorists not only legitimises their violence but emboldens them further.
Idayat Hassan, Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development in Abuja, has warned that many of the peace deals brokered in states like Katsina have failed due to poor planning and weak execution. She notes the lack of documentation, absence of legal frameworks, and the fragmented nature of the bandit groups, each operating autonomously with no central command, as key barriers to meaningful negotiation.
Experts argue that Nigeria needs a more intelligent and coordinated counter-insurgency strategy. This includes a holistic military approach supported by legitimate governance, proper intelligence gathering, and effective community protection. Restoring security and winning the trust of the people must be a priority.
Additionally, the full enforcement of anti-open grazing laws and the establishment of well-trained local security forces to patrol forested areas are urgently needed.
Another critical issue is justice for the victims. Any future peace agreement must include reparations and compensation for those affected by violence. Peace without justice, many argue, is no peace at all.
Furthermore, long-term solutions must address the pastoralist crisis. The governments National Livestock Transformation Plan, which aims to transition nomadic herders to sedentary livestock farming, has yet to be implemented. The plan includes infrastructure like water points, veterinary services, and schools for herder communities, but it remains stalled due to financial, technical, and political hurdles.
Ending the cycle of violence and lawlessness in Nigeria will require structural reforms, serious political will, and above all, accountability. The people of Benue, and countless other affected communities, are not just demanding answers, they are demanding action.
