Benue’s Children Suffer, Protesters Tear-Gassed, While Tinubu Calls Massacre ‘Senseless Bloodletting’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is facing heavy criticism after describing the recent mass killings in Benue State as “senseless bloodletting” and calling for action “on all sides of the conflict.” His statement, posted on X, made no mention of the over 200 civilians reportedly killed or the violent suppression of protests in Makurdi.

The president’s framing of the violence as a “conflict” between sides has sparked intense backlash. Many civil society groups, traditional leaders, and rights organisations argue that the attacks, particularly the massacre in the Yelewata community, where over 200 civilians were killed, were one-sided assaults on unarmed residents and should not be equated with mutual hostilities.

Protests broke out on 15 June across the state, but demonstrators were met with tear gas, water cannons, helicopters, and armoured vehicles deployed by order of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

Amid the violence, haunting scenes from Benue show stranded children roaming the streets homeless, hungry, and exposed to danger. An indigene shared on social media:

God! I’m so scared. There are no words to describe this. Oh God!!! 💔💔💔💔😭
See the amount of stranded kids on the street, Roaming endlessly, exposed to all manner of vices,No home, No Food, Nothing!!!

Communities have accused the federal government of negligence and bias. Over the past month, attacks in Guma, Gwer, and Ukum LGAs have left hundreds displaced and dozens dead.

Despite these developments, no senior federal official has visited the affected communities, and there has been no confirmed arrest of the perpetrators at the time of reporting.

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