Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a scathing statement condemning the unrelenting violence in Benue State, describing the situation as a “brutal and heart-wrenching reality” that must no longer be ignored.
His remarks come amid renewed killings in the state, which have left scores of people dead and thousands displaced in recent months.
“The bloodshed in Benue State has reached a devastating crescendo — a brutal and heart-wrenching reality that can no longer be ignored,” Atiku declared in a lengthy post on X on Monday, lamenting the years of silence and government inaction that have accompanied the carnage.
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According to him, communities in Benue have suffered in isolation while leaders at both the state and federal levels offer “nothing but hollow assurances.” He painted a grim picture of daily life in the region, where “families have buried their loved ones in silence, villages have been ravaged, and communities shattered.”
Atiku questioned how much more suffering the people of Benue must endure before the government responds meaningfully to their plight.
“Their demand is simple: to live in peace, to sleep without fear, to farm without being slaughtered, and to raise their children without the constant shadow of violence,” he said.
The former Vice President also criticized the government’s use of force against peaceful protesters in the state. He described recent clampdowns on demonstrators as a betrayal of the government’s constitutional duty to protect its citizens.
“When citizens take to the streets to protest this injustice, they are not inciting rebellion, they are crying for help… But what do they receive in return? Tear gas. Brutality. Disdain. It is pouring hot oil on an open wound,” Atiku stated.
“To unleash force on grieving, defenseless citizens is not governance, it is cruelty. It is a betrayal of the sacred duty of leadership,” he added.
Atiku further decried what he called a dangerous “normalisation of violence” in Nigeria’s political leadership, accusing officials of prioritizing optics over human lives.
“The silence, the indifference, the lack of urgency, it is all damning. It speaks to a deeper rot in the conscience of leadership,” he said.
Calling for immediate action, Atiku urged government officials to go beyond condolences and instead collaborate with security agencies to design a robust, people-centered security architecture.
“This is a call to conscience to every leader at both the federal and state levels: stop turning a blind eye while Benue drowns in blood. Stop offering condolences and start offering solutions,” he charged.
The former presidential candidate also extended his appeal to the broader Nigerian public, urging them to remain vocal and to hold those in power accountable.
“We urge the people not to be silenced. Raise your voices. Demand accountability. Demand justice. Demand a government that sees you, hears you, and protects you,” Atiku said.
In his final remarks, he warned that history would not be kind to those who neglect their duties during these times of crisis: “History will not be kind to those who chose power over people. The time to act is now.”
According to security experts, Atiku’s statement underscores the growing public outrage over insecurity in Nigeria, especially in the Middle Belt and northern regions, where countless lives have been lost to recurring communal violence and banditry.
