Following the recent wave of deadly attacks, including the horrific massacre in Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, a coalition of 37 concerned citizens, operating under the umbrella of Benue Development Professionals (BDP), has urgently appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
The coalition appealed to all well-meaning Nigerians, the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, international human rights bodies, and development partners to stand in solidarity, demand justice, and help end the bloodshed in Benue State.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Dr. Rommy Mom, the coalition revealed that the Yelwata massacre was not an isolated incident. They highlighted similar coordinated assaults in Naka (Tse-Antswam), Makurdi (Akondu-Tyough), and Apa (Edikwu Ankpali) since the beginning of June. These escalating attacks, the BDP stated, were fuelling fears of a broader plot linked to resource exploitation, land grabs, and ethnic cleansing in the region.
The BDP called on President Tinubu to order the deployment of adequate security personnel to safeguard communities and ensure the unconditional release of peaceful protesters arrested while demanding justice for their slain family members. They also urged the President to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the violence.
The BDP, comprising civil society leaders, human rights advocates, and diaspora professionals, is demanding immediate action to protect vulnerable communities and bring perpetrators to justice.
“This is not merely a Benue problem. This is a test of our collective humanity,” the BDP stated,
“We will not be silent. We will not rest until justice is served. The time for action is now,” the statement stressed.
“As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu visits Benue State, the Benue Development Professionals are calling for accountability and leadership,” the statement read.
The coalition specifically demanded that the President “Guarantee full compensation for victims, alongside urgent delivery of medical care, food, clothing, shelter, and trauma support for displaced survivors.
“We urge Investigate and publicly expose the links between these atrocities and illegal resource exploitation, land grabbing, and other human rights violations.
“We also call for Collaboration meaningfully with local civil society organizations to ensure long-term peace and community rebuilding.”
The coalition emphasised that all elected officials at state, federal, and diaspora levels must publicly condemn the violence and take concrete steps to halt it.
While acknowledging ongoing humanitarian efforts, the BDP stressed that they remained “grossly inadequate.” The coalition is pressing for the immediate mobilization of medical aid, psychosocial support, emergency relief supplies, and legal assistance, particularly for detained protesters.
“To raise national and international awareness, a Publicity and Communications Subcommittee will lead advocacy efforts through survivor storytelling, strategic hashtags, and mass media campaigns. An Advocacy Subcommittee will engage local, state, federal, and international actors to demand policy changes and diplomatic attention.
“Furthermore, a dedicated team will investigate links between these attacks and illegal mining, land seizure, and human rights abuses in the Benue Valley. A monitoring unit will also be established for early warning and rapid response, tracking flashpoints, issuing alerts, and coordinating swift legal and safety interventions for targeted communities and activists,” they stated.
