President Bola Tinubu is under fire after describing the recent massacre in Benue State, which claimed over 200 lives, as a “reprisal attack.”

 

According to UGAMA TV, the President, in a statement issued by his media aide Bayo Onanuga, condemned the killings in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, but referred to the incident as part of renewed “reprisal attacks.” The statement failed to clarify what the attack was allegedly in response to, sparking widespread criticism across the state.

 

Atu Terver, Principal Special Assistant to the Benue Governor on Youth and Media Mobilization, took to Facebook, expressing deep sorrow: “How can you call genocide a reprisal attack?”

 

Civil rights activist Ukan Kurugh also criticized the wording, questioning Onanuga’s statement on X (formerly Twitter) and lamenting the lack of protection for Benue residents: “Indeed, nobody is coming for us but we must save ourselves.”

 

Aguredam Keghter Moses, Deputy Country Director of the African Youth Union Commission in Nigeria, echoed the outrage, urging that the President’s remarks must send a “clear message” and suggesting deeper implications behind the statement.