BY ADEKOLA BOLUWAJI NIFEMI
The killings in Benue State, Nigeria—often described as massacres—have become a tragic and recurring national shame. With communities repeatedly subjected to waves of brutal violence from suspected armed herders and militias, the death tolls continue to mount while the government’s response remains disturbingly inadequate. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the expectation was for a more assertive and humane leadership—especially in dealing with such long-standing, life-and-death crises. Yet his administration’s handling of the Benue massacres has fallen drastically short, exposing deep flaws in leadership, empathy, and national security strategy.
A Legacy of Bloodshed Ignored
Benue State, often referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has for years suffered from herder-farmer conflicts, criminal attacks, and ethno-religious violence. Entire communities have been razed, hundreds killed, and thousands displaced. Despite this tragic reality, President Tinubu has largely remained silent or superficially engaged.
Since his inauguration in May 2023, the killings in Benue have continued unabated. In multiple instances, villages have been attacked in quick succession—children slaughtered, homes burned, and residents forced to flee into overcrowded camps with no food, security, or basic healthcare. Yet Tinubu’s administration has failed to offer a clear plan of action, sustained federal intervention, or even a visit to the affected areas.
Absence of Leadership in Times of Crisis
In moments of national grief, silence is complicity. President Tinubu’s failure to address the Benue massacres with urgency or emotional gravity sends a message of indifference. The lack of high-level federal visits, failure to hold emergency security summits focused on Benue, and the absence of national mourning or public empathy all point to a leader who appears distant from the pain of his citizens.
Contrast this with global or historical responses to similar tragedies, where leaders take symbolic and practical steps—visiting victims, mobilizing security forces, or instituting commissions of inquiry. Tinubu’s aloofness on the matter speaks volumes about a presidency more focused on political survival and elite negotiations than the protection of ordinary Nigerians.
Security Failures Continue Unchecked
The Nigerian constitution places the responsibility for internal security squarely on the federal government. Despite this, President Tinubu has offered no new security architecture, strategy, or reformed counterterrorism policy tailored to stop the killings in Benue or the broader Middle Belt. While he inherited a broken security system, his administration has continued many of the same ineffective approaches—military redeployments with no staying power, intelligence gaps, and a reactive rather than preventive strategy.
Moreover, under his watch, there has been little to no accountability. Perpetrators continue to operate with impunity. Arrests are rare, prosecutions virtually nonexistent, and security operatives often arrive late—or not at all. The consistent failure to investigate these crimes as acts of terrorism or ethnic cleansing further undermines any claim to justice.
Political Calculations Over Human Lives
Observers have noted that Tinubu’s failure to act decisively may be linked to political alliances and a desire not to offend powerful blocs, particularly those perceived to have links with armed herder groups. This dangerous calculus—placing political expediency over national unity and human security—undermines the moral legitimacy of the presidency. In a nation as ethnically and religiously diverse as Nigeria, selective outrage is deadly.
Additionally, Tinubu’s reluctance to implement or support strong anti-grazing laws like those passed in Benue State under Governor Samuel Ortom—and continued under Governor Hyacinth Alia—suggests a troubling lack of alignment between federal and state security priorities.
A Humanitarian Crisis Ignored
The internal displacement crisis in Benue has become one of the largest in Nigeria. Camps are overcrowded, underfunded, and largely abandoned by the federal government. Humanitarian aid is inconsistent, and basic needs like food, water, and medical care are left to NGOs and overstretched state agencies. Yet Tinubu’s government has offered no clear policy to support displaced persons or to begin the process of resettlement and justice.
This neglect reflects not just a failure in security, but a profound disregard for the humanitarian implications of state collapse in parts of the country.
Conclusion: A President Out of Step with Reality
President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the Benue massacres reveals an administration dangerously out of touch with the human cost of insecurity. Leadership is not just about winning elections or delivering speeches—it is about protecting citizens, restoring hope, and responding swiftly to crises. In Benue, Tinubu has failed.
As killings continue and survivors cry out for help, history will not remember Tinubu for rhetorical commitments to unity or peace—but for how he abandoned a bleeding state to suffer in silence. If his presidency is to mean anything to the people of Benue, it must begin with accountability, decisive action, and an unwavering commitment to protect every Nigerian life—regardless of tribe, region, or political cost.