For two consecutive weeks, a wave of panic has swept through Nigeria following brutal attacks on communities in Benue and Plateau States, resulting in the deaths of no fewer than 150 people, all killed by yet-to-be-identified assailants. In Benue State alone, official figures report 119 deaths within this short span, while residents insist the actual number is far higher.
According to official sources, 13 people were killed in Gwer-West, 7 in Guma, 16 in Kwande, and a staggering 83 lives were brutally taken in Ukum/Logo—all within two weeks. Within the same period, armed attackers struck communities in Bassa and Bokkos local government areas on the Plateau, killing 103 residents of the state.
Predictable cycle of killings
These heinous acts occurred despite the presence of security personnel—police, civil defence, DSS operatives, and the military—pointing to a glaring failure of intelligence.
The questions that haunt not just me but countless patriotic Nigerians remain: Why are these killings happening? Why do they persist without resolution? How is it that these attackers consistently evade security checks and intelligence networks, invade communities, and vanish unchallenged? Most importantly, who are these killers?
These unrelenting attacks and senseless killings highlight the growing threat to the unity and stability of the North Central region. In a now all-too-familiar pattern, armed men target predominantly farming communities, raiding, killing mostly women and children, and displacing hundreds of families.
The cycle of killings in Benue and Plateau States has become tragically predictable. After each episode, like the recent one, the nation expresses outrage, and then, all too quickly, moves on as though nothing happened. Rarely are concrete steps taken to pursue and prosecute the attackers and any possible sponsors. This failure has emboldened the perpetrators.
Just like previous massacres in these states and others across the country, the recent killings underscore the grim consequences of uninvestigated crimes. They serve as a painful reminder of Nigeria’s fragile and deteriorating security architecture – one that increasingly seems incapable of delivering results.
Once again, I ask: How long will the nation sit back while these killers and their backers operate unchecked? Why is it so difficult to apprehend them? What exactly do they want?
Rush for land?
According to residents, the attackers’ goal is to kill, conquer, and occupy their lands. It is inconceivable that anyone, no matter their strength, can invade, conquer, and lay claim to land that belongs to an entire people. It simply cannot stand.
Take Benue, for instance. Six local governments in the state lie on the frontline, sharing borders with Taraba, Nasarawa, and even Cameroon. These are predominantly farming communities with enormous potential to meet a significant portion of Nigeria’s food demand. These recurring attacks have made it impossible for the residents of communities in these six local governments, who are predominantly farmers, to cultivate their land. Not only is that a recipe for hunger and poverty; it is also limiting the nation’s drive towards attaining sustainable food security.
The Benue Valley, nourished by the River Benue, is a vast and fertile region suitable for cultivating a range of food and cash crops. The river provides both water for farming and a route for transportation. Clearly, this region is vital to Nigeria’s economic stability, and the ongoing violence threatens not just local communities but the nation’s broader future.
The pattern of attacks in the Benue Valley appears to be a calculated attempt—largely attributed to armed herdsmen—to displace indigenous populations and seize their most valued asset: brutal attacks on communitiesland, their only inheritance. This must not be allowed to succeed.
The violence in Plateau and Benue bears striking similarities to what is occurring in Kwara, Niger, and Zamfara States—regions where armed groups operate freely. While Benue and Niger are blessed with fertile agricultural lands, Plateau and Zamfara boast significant mineral deposits. It’s easy to connect the dots: these attacks are driven by the ambition to control both land and untapped mineral resources.
This ambition is at the root of the persistent violence, which continues to claim lives and destroy property. Sadly, amidst the bloodshed, there appears to be little in the way of real efforts to enhance security collaboration, foster dialogue, or implement meaningful policies for peace and unity.
No Justice yet
More troubling is the fact that despite the long history of these attacks, no serious attempt has been made to bring the perpetrators to justice. Nor have there been determined efforts to tackle the root causes of insecurity or promote social harmony. In this regard, both leaders and citizens must accept their share of the blame.
Today, many Nigerians, especially the vulnerable and poor, face a cruel dual burden: hunger and insecurity. Fearful of being kidnapped, farmers avoid their fields. Yet staying home doesn’t offer safety either. Starvation or sudden attack—those are the choices they face.
The refusal of successive governments in Plateau and Benue—and indeed in other affected states—to conduct thorough investigations and prosecute offenders has only emboldened the killers. This negligence must not continue.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has repeatedly claimed that the killings are instigated by persons he described as Abuja politicians. Just yesterday, he asserted that the killers are not Nigerians. The question is: Is the governor acting on intelligence, or is he simply overwhelmed by the situation? Why has no single individual among the alleged Abuja politicians been charged? And when did the governor arrive at the conclusion that the killers are foreigners?
Once known as Benue-Plateau, the region has since been split into Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa States—all richly blessed with mineral resources and fertile lands suitable for cultivating various food and cash crops.
While Plateau and Nasarawa are endowed with minerals like tin, columbite, barite, and lithium, Benue is hailed as the nation’s food basket. It boasts vast tracts of arable land ideal for cultivating rice, yams, wheat, sesame, and many other crops.
If adequately developed, the agricultural wealth of Benue and Nasarawa states could meet a major portion of the country’s food needs. Yet, this potential remains grossly untapped. The unending violence—now normalized in the face of government inaction—has crippled these states’ productivity and prosperity.
The continuous killings across resource-rich states like Benue, Plateau, Niger, and Zamfara unmistakably signals that economic saboteurs are actively waging war against Nigeria. Only a robust and coordinated response—beyond mere rhetoric—can defeat these enemies and their backers. That response must begin now.
Villa’s N10bn Solar Power Budget
So, the Presidential Villa, Nigeria’s seat of power, is set to spend N10billion on an alternative source of power? The Nigerian media reported that N10billion has been earmarked in the 2025 budget for the installation of a solar mini-grid in the Villa.
That allocation says a lot about the government’s efforts to address the unreliable public power supply and the high cost of electricity. In opting for solar energy instead of frontally addressing the challenges of the national grid, the Villa is telling Nigerians not to expect an end to the challenges rocking the public power supply. Pure and simple.
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