In Nigeria, Citizens Demand Action as Benue Mourns 200+ Massacre Victims While Rivers State Gets Swift Emergency Rule

 

The phrase “State of Emergency” is igniting intense public debate across Nigeria as citizens voice their anger and frustration over the federal government’s failure to declare a state of emergency in Benue and other states plagued by escalating violence, where over 200 people have been brutally massacred in recent weeks. The outrage is amplified by the swift imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State, where no fatalities were reported, leading many to accuse the government of selective urgency and inconsistent priorities in addressing national crises. Nigerians are questioning why areas grappling with devastating loss of life are seemingly overlooked while less deadly situations receive immediate action.

The nation is in mourning following a particularly horrific attack in Yelwata, Benue, on the night of June 13-14, 2025, where over 100 people were reportedly killed. Many victims, including women and children, were burned alive in their homes during the raid, which local sources attribute to suspected armed herders. Additional assaults in Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas have driven the death toll in Benue alone to over 200 this month, marking one of the deadliest periods in the region’s recent history. These attacks have compounded the grief and fear felt by communities already reeling from years of communal and herder-farmer conflicts.

Social media platforms, particularly X, are flooded with expressions of anger, sorrow, and demands for accountability. Hashtags calling for justice and federal intervention are gaining traction, as Nigerians share graphic accounts and images of the devastation in Benue. Many are pressing the government to declare a state of emergency to mobilize security forces, provide humanitarian aid, and address the root causes of the violence. Critics argue that the absence of such a declaration reflects neglect or political bias, with some pointing to the rapid response in Rivers State—prompted by political tensions rather than loss of life—as evidence of skewed governance. The growing unrest underscores deep-seated frustrations with the government’s handling of security and its perceived failure to protect vulnerable communities

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