A devastating massacre in Benue State has left over 200 innocent Nigerians dead, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation from human rights groups and citizens alike. The National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, and Mob Action (NCAMKI) has strongly condemned the horrific killings, describing it as a manifestation of deepening insecurity, impunity, and governmental failure in the country.

NCAMKI’s National Coordinator, Comrade Babatunde Agunbiade, expressed the organization’s solidarity with the victims’ families and the Nigerian people, emphasizing that these lives were cut short in cold blood. “These are not just statistics. They are our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, children—our fellow citizens—whose lives were cut short in cold blood,” Agunbiade said.

The coalition is demanding immediate government action to bring the perpetrators to justice, declaring a state of emergency in Benue State, and establishing an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the incident. NCAMKI also calls for community mobilization and reporting, protection of survivors and internally displaced persons, and a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all relevant federal security agencies to take urgent and decisive action to bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice. No more press statements. No more committees. We demand action,” Agunbiade demanded.

The Benue State massacre has sparked protests and demands for government action, with many Nigerians criticizing the government’s response as inadequate. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has also condemned the killings, calling for immediate government intervention to protect vulnerable communities and bring perpetrators to justice.

Other prominent figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, have also condemned the killings. Obi described the incident as a “failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience”. Atiku Abubakar urged the federal government to take decisive action to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

The attack, which occurred on June 13, targeted internally displaced persons in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, with reports indicating that militants set fire to buildings and attacked people with machetes, killing over 200 people. The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in Nigeria and the need for urgent action to protect citizens.