Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a scathing rebuke of both federal and state authorities over their handling of the escalating violence in Benue State, warning that the situation has reached an “unbearable crescendo” and demands immediate action.
In a strongly worded statement shared Monday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Atiku condemned what he described as the ongoing silence and indifference from political leaders amid a wave of bloodshed ravaging Benue and other conflict-ridden regions of the country.
“The bloodshed in Benue State has reached a devastating crescendo — a brutal and heart-wrenching reality that can no longer be ignored,” he wrote. “For years, families have buried their loved ones in silence, villages have been ravaged, and communities shattered, while those in power watch from a distance, offering nothing but hollow assurances.”
The former presidential candidate expressed dismay at the government’s response to recent public protests in Makurdi, sparked by an attack in the Yelewata community of Guma Local Government Area where nearly 250 people were reportedly killed. He described the use of force against demonstrators as “cruel” and “a betrayal of leadership.”
“When citizens take to the streets to protest this injustice, they are not inciting rebellion, they are crying for help,” Atiku said. “To unleash force on grieving, defenseless citizens is not governance, it is cruelty.”
He urged political leaders to place human lives above political interests, warning that history would judge those who “chose power over people.”
“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.”
Atiku also advocated for the overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture and called for improved coordination with security agencies to protect citizens, not only in Benue but in other embattled states such as Plateau, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Taraba.
“This country needs a security system that sees the people, hears them, and protects them,” he added. “We urge the people not to be silenced. Raise your voices. Demand accountability. Demand justice.”
His comments have added to a growing chorus of voices — including religious bodies, medical professionals, and civil society groups — urging decisive action to address what many are calling a humanitarian and security crisis in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.