Benue Youths Protest Yelwata Massacre, Leaders Demand Action Amid Rising Tensions

On Sunday, June 15, 2025, thousands of youths in Benue State blocked major roads, including the Wurukum Roundabout in Makurdi, to protest the massacre of over 200 people, including women, children, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), by armed herders in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The protesters, chanting solidarity songs and holding placards with messages like “Stop Benue Killings” and “Government Has Failed Us,” demanded federal and state government action to end the persistent violence and enable IDPs to return to their ancestral homes. They rebuffed attempts by Deputy Governor Dr. Sam Ode and Police Commissioner Emenari Ifeanyi to disperse them, defying teargas and low-flying helicopters. Social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), intervened after a five-hour standoff, urging civility and organized protests, leading to the crowd dispersing while planning a future demonstration with police approval.

Official Responses:

• President Bola Tinubu: Condemned the killings as “inhuman and anti-progress,” ordering security chiefs to arrest and prosecute perpetrators. Via spokesman Bayo Onanuga, he urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to lead dialogue and reconciliation, emphasizing peace through fairness and justice, while cautioning against inflammatory rhetoric.
• Governor Hyacinth Alia: Denounced the attack, stating “nothing should warrant the taking of lives.” Represented by Ode at Yelwata, Alia outlined ongoing engagements with security agencies, traditional rulers, and stakeholders to strengthen joint operations and protect residents, urging leaders to prevent unlawful gatherings.
• Commissioner of Police Emenari Ifeanyi: Announced that Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has assumed control of Benue’s security, deploying special forces. Ifeanyi claimed tactical teams were in Yelwata before the attack, asserting that herders struck to counter military gains in Apa, Gwer West, and Agatu, and urged protesters to allow security operations to proceed.
• Peter Obi (Labour Party): Blamed the killings on leadership failure, calling it a “national emergency” and a “stain on our collective conscience.” He demanded decisive action beyond symbolic gestures, emphasizing that a secure Benue is a moral and national duty.
• Atiku Abubakar (PDP): Expressed anguish, urging a transparent investigation, enhanced security, community dialogue, and support for survivors. He called for national unity to condemn the violence and demand sustainable solutions.
• HURIWA: Warned of potential ethnic conflict, criticizing Tinubu for retaining “incompetent” security chiefs and the National Security Adviser, who remain in Abuja while rural communities suffer. HURIWA demanded their dismissal and justice for victims.
• Pope Leo XIV: Led prayers for the victims, noting the attack’s brutality against IDPs sheltered by a Catholic mission, calling for security, justice, and peace in Benue’s rural Christian communities.‽web:5,19post:4
• Amnesty International Nigeria: Demanded an end to Benue’s “almost daily bloodshed” and justice for perpetrators, highlighting the attack’s severity.

Protest and Community Sentiment: Youth leaders like Seedoff Mbapuun and Brahms Ikuan voiced frustration, stating that years of unaddressed attacks have left Benue communities feeling abandoned, with Yelwata’s proximity to Makurdi amplifying fears. Gideon Inyom accused the government of relaxing the 2017 Anti-Open Grazing Law, enabling herder incursions. Protesters cooked meals on the road, signaling their resolve, but VDM’s appeal for non-violent, organized protests resonated, with his firsthand account of burned children and crops underscoring the crisis’s gravity. He highlighted insecurity’s economic toll, noting it deters investment and fuels youth unemployment and crime.