Breaking: Benue Massacre: Security Operatives Await Orders As Locals Bury Their Dead
Benue Massacre: Security Operatives Await Orders As Locals Bury Their Dead
By Seigha Dora Ayedi from Italy for Egbema Egberi Media International
In what has become a horrifying routine in Nigeria's Middle Belt, over 20 innocent civilians, including a 2-year-old child, have been killed in a fresh attack allegedly carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Benue State. The massacre, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, has plunged the affected communities into deep mourning and reawakened national outrage.
However, perhaps even more disturbing than the bloodshed itself is the revelation that security operatives deployed in the region have yet to receive a formal directive from the Federal Government to engage the killers or launch a meaningful response.
“If the Federal Government is yet to give an order to engage after such a magnitude of killing, then it means they have already given an order for the killing — and therefore see no need for a counter order,” said the Local Government Chairman of the affected area.
This piercing statement reflects the frustration and helplessness felt by thousands of citizens in Benue and beyond, where mass killings continue to be met with deafening silence or official foot-dragging. The implication is grim: in the absence of a command to stop the attackers, the government's silence is being interpreted as tacit approval.
Residents are now asking difficult questions: How many more must die before action is taken? What is the purpose of deploying security operatives who are handcuffed by bureaucracy or deliberate political inertia? If a 2-year-old child being slaughtered cannot provoke an immediate response from the center, what does that say about the value of life in our nation?
This is not the first time Benue has been soaked in blood. From Agatu to Guma, from Logo to Makurdi, the state has become synonymous with unchecked violence and unfulfilled promises. Yet, each massacre is followed by the same cycle: condemnation, visits by delegations, and pledges that fade with the headlines.
The Chairman’s comment — raw, bold, and accusatory — captures the essence of what many Nigerians feel but dare not say. Inaction, in this case, is not neutrality. It is complicity. A government that refuses to act is, in effect, making a choice — a tragic, deadly choice that continues to cost innocent lives.
If security operatives on the ground are unable to intervene because there’s no "order from above," then the problem lies not with the boots on the ground, but with the suits in the capital.
What the people demand is not just protection, but political will. Not just troops, but instructions. Not just condolences, but justice. Until then, the graves will continue to multiply, and the silence from Abuja will speak louder than any official statement.
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