Human Rights and Peace advocates, Dr Raymond Edoh, has issued a passionate plea to the federal government and the international community to take immediate action to stop the wave of killings in Benue State, following the killing of around 200 people in Yelwata.
Edoh, in a statement on Monday, said the crisis has reached a tipping point, as attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen continue to devastate local farming communities.
“These killings are no longer isolated incidents but part of a tragic pattern that has plagued the region for years,” Edoh said.
He warned that the people of Benue are now defenceless, with no means to protect themselves due to legal restrictions on arms and the failure of state security.
He noted that government officials and the elite seem untouched by the violence, while the poor and vulnerable bear the brunt of the conflict. “Enough is enough,” he said. “Our people are sitting ducks.”
The violence, largely driven by land and resource disputes between herders and farmers, has intensified since 2017. With agricultural activities disrupted, schools deserted, and health centres abandoned, life in Benue has become unbearable for many.
A 2018 report by Amnesty International revealed that over 3,000 people were killed in such conflicts in Nigeria.
Edoh said that number has only grown as mistrust in government deepens and security lapses widen.
Children can no longer go to school. Women live in fear of venturing out to find food or water. The healthcare system in many rural areas has collapsed, with staff fleeing amid constant threats.
Dr Edoh is calling for a coordinated, multi-dimensional response from both the Nigerian state and global partners. He urged President Bola Tinubu’s government to provide lasting security and initiate meaningful peace talks between herders and farmers.
He also called on international bodies like the United Nations and humanitarian NGOs to step in, providing aid and advocating for the rights of displaced and threatened populations.
“The world is watching,” he said.
“We must act now. The Benue people need more than sympathy — they need safety, support, and justice.”
He further stressed the need for investment in conflict resolution, economic empowerment of local farmers, and the development of sustainable solutions to prevent future clashes.
“Peace in Benue is not only a local concern,” Edoh said. “It’s a national issue that affects Nigeria’s food security and internal stability. We need to build bridges, not walls, between communities.”
