Pope Leo IV Condemn Benue Massacre; VDM Storms Makurdi as Thousands Protest Over 500 Killed in Herdsmen Attacks, Gov Alia’s Condemnations Fall Short

Key Points:

• Governor Alia’s Condemnations: Words Without Weight
• Protests broke out in Makurdi
• Pope Leo prays for the victims of a “terrible massacre” in Benue State, Nigeria
• COAS relocation’s impact is uncertain, fails as usual
• Communities desperately need tangible solutions

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a chilling wave of violence that has left Benue State reeling, over 500 lives have been lost to suspected Fulani herdsmen attacks in the past two months, with the latest massacre in Yelewata and Daudu communities claiming over 200 lives, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), women, children, and five security personnel.

As the bloodbath continues unabated, Governor Hyacinth Alia’s repeated condemnations, devoid of tangible action, have left residents feeling abandoned in the face of relentless terror.

Protesters in Makurdi, Benue State

On Friday night, June 13, 2025, Yelewata, a border town with Nasarawa State in Guma Local Government Area (LGA), and nearby Daudu were besieged by over 300 heavily armed assailants, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers launched a coordinated assault from both eastern and western flanks, overpowering a meager defense of four soldiers and local youths.

Houses and market stalls were doused with petrol and set ablaze, with toddlers and entire families “slaughtered like animals,” as described by Matthew Mnyan, a Yelewata community leader and former Acting Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board.

“We’ve recorded over 200 fatalities—families of 12 or 15 people, including husbands, wives, and children, consumed by fire,” Mnyan said, his voice breaking.

We’ve recorded over 200 fatalities—families of 12 or 15 people, including husbands, wives, and children, consumed by fire

“Forty-six wounded were taken to hospital; 20 have died so far.” He added that prior alerts from Nasarawa State about impending attacks on Yelewata, Ukoho, Ortese, Yogbo, and Daudu were ignored, underscoring a catastrophic failure of intelligence and response.

In Daudu, defenders managed to repel the attackers, but at a grave cost: five security personnel, including a captain, were killed. Maurice Orwough, Chairman of Guma LGA, confirmed the attack, noting that over 26 people were hospitalized.

“They tried Daudu first, but the military stopped them. Then they moved to Yelewata at 11:30 p.m., where only four soldiers were posted,” Orwough said, as reported by Channels Television.

Some of the dead bodies were recovered. Credit: Online

He pleaded for increased surveillance to protect his people, highlighting the dire shortage of security presence in vulnerable areas.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by Deputy Governor Sam Ode during a visit to Yelewata on Sunday, June 15, condemned the attacks “in strong terms,” asserting that “nothing should warrant the taking of life.”

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Alia claimed to share in the “pains and grief” of the affected communities and promised that the state government was engaging federal security agencies, traditional rulers, and stakeholders to strengthen security interventions.

At least 270 lives have been lost across 10 LGAs, with 43 killed in Gwer West and Apa LGAs on June 1 alone

He announced the arrival of tactical teams from the Federal Government, with additional deployments planned for vulnerable areas, and vowed to pursue justice and peace.

Yet these assurances ring hollow for many Benue residents, who point to a pattern of inaction. Since April 1, 2025, at least 270 lives have been lost across 10 LGAs, with 43 killed in Gwer West and Apa LGAs on June 1 alone.

Alia’s earlier claim on April 17 that 598 people had been killed in affected communities underscores the scale of the crisis, yet critics argue his administration has failed to enforce the state’s Anti-Open Grazing Law or secure rural areas effectively.

Chief Dennis Gbongbon, President of the Association of United Farmers Benue Valley, accused Lakurawa bandits and herders of targeting IDPs, noting that 85 percent of the victims in Yelewata were displaced farmers from Antsa, Dooka, Kadarko, and Giza. “Even when displaced, terror found them,” Gbongbon lamented, calling the attacks a “terrifying escalation.”

I am live in yelewata in benue state where over 200 people were kpaid yesterday being 14/6/2025…. Dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is this what you promised Nigeria during the campaign? Look at this video for how long will this continue? BENUE IS BLEEDING, when does this stop? pic.twitter.com/rbryru6HEE

— VDM Quotes (@VerydarkmanQuot) June 15, 2025

VeryDarkMan (VDM), the Nigerian activist, and others stormed Makurdi to amplify the voices of protesters against the incessant attacks on vulnerable communities in Benue State. As Nigerians mourn the victims of the Benue massacre, Pope Leo IV prayed for the victims of a “terrible massacre,” noting that most were internally displaced persons “sheltered by the local Catholic mission.”

Posts on X reflect growing public frustration, with users like @General_Somto questioning the lack of response to the killings of Christians in Benue and Plateau. “When will the security forces start making arrests?” one post demanded.

Pope Leo prays for the victims of a “terrible massacre” in Benue State, Nigeria.

Around 200 people were “brutally killed” in Yelwata, in the Guma Local Government Area on the night of the 13th/14th June, the Pope said, most of them internally displaced persons “sheltered by the… pic.twitter.com/gOZw8Ny0L2

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) June 15, 2025

Speaking just before delivering the Sunday Angelus prayer, Pope Leo IV prayed for “security, justice, and peace” in Nigeria, adding that he was thinking in particular of the “rural Christian communities of Benue State who have been relentless victims of violence.”

“Where is the #RenewedHope for the people of Benue State? Leadership is for the living, not the dead. This is not Sudan, Israel, Iran, Russia, or Ukraine, yet hundreds are killed in Nigeria as if we are at war,” Dr. Michael Terungwa Davi said.

Amnesty International has also criticized the administration for leaving communities “at the mercy of rampaging gunmen,” a sentiment echoed by Senator Abba Moro, who described the crisis as a “slide toward anarchy.”

Earlier expressions of solidarity, such as the April 22 condolences for 72 deaths in Logo and Ukum LGAs, have done little to assuage fears.

The dispatch of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to Benue in April was touted as a show of support, but with violence escalating, many question the effectiveness of these gestures.

In a significant move, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede relocated to Makurdi on June 10, 2025, to oversee operations aimed at curbing the violence.

The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-Gen Olufemi Oluyede, has relocated to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, with a view to curtailing the incessant killings of innocent villagers by herders and militia groups. pic.twitter.com/GWNQCn20GD

— Daily Post Nigeria (@DailyPostNGR) June 3, 2025

Following a closed-door meeting with Governor Alia, Oluyede visited affected communities, conveying federal condolences and promising intensified efforts.

Alia described the visit as a “message of hope,” but security expert Orgem Angulum warned that such relocations have failed in states like Borno and Plateau.

“We need a national security summit to rethink our strategy,” Angulum urged, emphasizing the need to hold reclaimed territories rather than leaving communities vulnerable.

The Benue State Police Command confirmed the deployment of tactical teams to Apa and Gwer West, with Commissioner of Police Emenari Ifeanyi relocating the Area Commander to Apa.

Some of the dead bodies were recovered. Credit: Online

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However, local leaders like Adams Ocheiga, Chairman of Apa LGA, reported no visible police presence as of June 10, warning that the situation remained volatile.

The human toll of the crisis is staggering. In Apa LGA, a mass burial was held for 28 Christians killed on June 1 in Edikwu-Ankpali, with survivors taking refuge in Odugbo village.

In Gwer West, 18 Christians were slain in Tse Antswam on the same day. The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association decried the government’s inability to protect citizens, accusing security forces of complicity in some instances.

Women in Apa planned a peaceful protest but canceled it over fears of infiltration by hoodlums, reflecting the pervasive fear gripping the region.

Traditional rulers, including the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, have appealed for federal intervention, while community leaders like Daniel Abomtse accuse Fulani herdsmen of seeking to seize land.

As Benue mourns, the question remains: will words translate into action? Governor Alia’s pledges stand in stark contrast to the cries of a state under siege.

Benue youths protesting in Makurdi

With over 500 lives lost since April, the deployment of tactical teams and the Army Chief’s presence offer a glimmer of hope, but without a comprehensive strategy to address root causes—such as land disputes and weak security infrastructure—Benue risks descending further into chaos.

For now, residents like Matthew Mnyan cling to resilience amidst grief. “This was a dark day,” he said, “but we will not give up.” The people of Benue wait, watching for a response that matches the scale of their suffering.

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