Nigerian critic VeryDarkMan has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s response to the recent massacre in Benue State, where over 200 people were reportedly burnt alive in a herdsmen attack in Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area. The brutal incident has drawn global condemnation and widespread outrage across Nigeria.
Following the attack, Pope Leo described the massacre as “terrible” and called for justice. President Tinubu responded by urging the Benue State government to pursue dialogue and reconciliation with the attackers, alongside arresting and prosecuting suspects.
VeryDarkMan criticized this approach, asserting that the herdsmen are “way bigger than the President” and accusing the government and security agencies of having prior knowledge of the attacks. He argued that dialogue with perpetrators who commit such barbaric acts is futile and that the government’s response reveals the herdsmen’s power surpasses even the presidency and major political parties.
He further accused the security chiefs including the Director-General of DSS, Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Defense Staff, and Army Staff of being aware of the ongoing violence but failing to act. VeryDarkMan highlighted the attackers’ use of gallons of fuel and AK-47 rifles during the massacre, questioning how they managed to enter the community unchallenged.
“The killing of 200 people just passed like that, it didn’t trend, and no one talked about it. That’s why I went there, and now everyone is reacting,” he said. He called for farmers in Benue to arm themselves legally, stating that the crisis has escalated beyond the government’s current capacity to intervene effectively.
On Sunday, VeryDarkMan joined Benue youths in a protest in Makurdi, the state capital, demanding justice and stronger protection for the people of Benue State.
This tragic event and the government’s controversial response highlight the deepening security challenges in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region and the urgent need for effective measures to protect vulnerable communities.
