Over 100 people, including women and children, were killed in an overnight attack by gunmen in Yelwata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area in Benue State.
The attack, which occurred from late Friday into Saturday morning, led to international condemnation and a call for the Nigerian government to take more action to end the bloodshed.
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday expressed profound sorrow and offered prayers for the victims of what he described as a ‘terrible massacre’
Many of the victims were internally displaced persons sheltered by the local Catholic mission.
The Pope called for security, justice, and peace in Nigeria.
The police on Sunday used tear gas to disperse young people who trooped out in protest over the killings.
The protesters carried leaves, banners, and placards demanding federal government intervention.
Meanwhile, Former vice president and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, condemned the recent attack and called on Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable.
The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a total war on criminal elements terrorizing communities in Benue State.
Northern CAN, in a statement, condemned the persistent attacks and expressed concern that the security situation seems to be worsening despite earlier efforts.
They urged President Tinubu to take decisive action, direct security agencies to neutralize the threat within a clear timeframe, and even seek international assistance if necessary.
The association also called for decisive action against the resurgence of Boko Haram terrorist activities in Borno State, emphasizing that the nation’s sovereignty and the safety of its citizens depend on a robust response from all security apparatus.
They further urged the people of Benue to unite and cooperate with security agencies to end the bloodshed.
In response to the reprisal attacks, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday ordered security chiefs to enforce his previous directive for lasting peace in Benue State.
In a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, the president tasked Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia to lead reconciliation meetings between warring parties (farmers, herders, and communities) to end the bloodshed.
The president condemned the violence as inhuman and anti-progress, urging political and community leaders to cease inflammatory statements and control those inciting violence.
He also emphasized the need for decisive action against perpetrators and called on Governor Alia to act as a statesman in facilitating dialogue for peaceful coexistence.
Tensions flared at a high-level meeting of All Progressives Congress stakeholders in the North-East on Sunday, after a perceived slight against Vice-President Kashim Shettima triggered outrage among party loyalists.
Trouble began when Mustapha Salihu, the APC’s National Vice Chairman (North-East), publicly endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.
In his address, Salihu made no mention of Vice-President Shettima, himself a prominent son of the North-East.
Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka who was recently conferred the grand commander of the Order of the Niger, has called on President Bola Tinubu to reopen investigations into the unresolved deaths of Dele Giwa and Bola Ige.
Soyinka made the appeal during a media chat at Freedom Park in Lagos over the weekend, stating that vital clues in both cases remain untouched.
Dele Giwa, founding editor of Newswatch, was killed by a parcel bomb in 1986, while Bola Ige, a former Oyo state governor and attorney general, was assassinated at his Ibadan residence in 2001.
Soyinka criticised past governments, including that of Muhammadu Buhari, for failing to act — and challenged Tinubu to bring long-overdue justice and closure.
Since his retirement, General Abubakar has become a leading figure in conflict resolution and democracy promotion in Africa.
Additionally, the refinery is investing in CNG stations and an extra fleet of 100 CNG tankers.
The initiative aims to eliminate logistics costs, improve energy efficiency, promote sustainability, and support Nigeria’s economic development by making fuel more affordable and accessible.
The program targets marketers, petrol dealers, manufacturers, telecom firms, aviation, and other large users, allowing them to purchase directly from the refinery.
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