The tragedy that unfolded in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 200 civilians were brutally murdered, has ignited national grief and political backlash. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has issued a scathing condemnation of the Federal Government’s response, describing it as tone-deaf, insensitive, and devoid of empathy.
In a strongly worded statement, the NNPP criticized what it described as a theatrical and inappropriate show of strength by the Federal Government while the nation was still reeling from the loss. The party questioned the timing and tone of the administration’s actions, accusing it of prioritizing optics over genuine compassion.
Ajuji Ahmed, Acting National Chairman of the NNPP, expressed deep disappointment at the federal silence in the aftermath of what he called one of the most brutal massacres in recent memory. “How can a government remain indifferent when over 200 citizens are murdered in cold blood?” he asked. “Has the value of Nigerian lives become so diminished that not even a public condolence is deemed necessary?”
The violence in Benue State, largely blamed on suspected Fulani herdsmen, is part of a wider pattern of recurring attacks that have plagued the region for years. These killings have forced thousands from their homes and intensified national concerns over the government’s perceived inability—or unwillingness—to curb escalating insecurity.
The NNPP’s statement underscored growing public disillusionment with the federal leadership’s crisis response mechanisms. According to the party, repeated government inaction has emboldened perpetrators, deepened regional unrest, and further alienated vulnerable communities.
Calling for immediate intervention, the NNPP demanded justice for the victims and accountability for the failures that allowed the massacre to occur. The party urged the Federal Government to act decisively: apprehend those responsible, compensate affected families, and implement meaningful security reforms to prevent future atrocities.
This isn’t the first time the Federal Government’s response to violent attacks has come under fire. From widespread kidnappings to regional insurgencies, critics say official silence or delayed action has become a pattern. The Benue killings, in the NNPP’s view, reflect a broader crisis in national leadership and governance.
For many Nigerians, the images and stories emerging from Yelewata are more than a tragedy—they are a brutal indictment of a system that has failed to protect its own. As the grief turns to anger, the pressure mounts on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to show that Nigerian lives matter beyond political rhetoric.
The NNPP’s rebuke is more than political posturing—it is a public demand for justice, accountability, and a government that responds with urgency when its citizens are under attack.