The United Actions for Democracy (UAD), a pro-democracy civic group, has condemned the recent massacre in Benue State that claimed the lives of about 200 citizens, describing the tragedy as a glaring failure of leadership by both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia. In a statement jointly signed by UAD’s General Secretary Kunle Wizeman Ajayi and Convener Barrister Gabriel Ojumah, the group called on Nigerians, especially Benue indigenes, to demand the immediate resignation of the president and governor.
UAD criticized the handling of the security situation in Benue, accusing the ruling class of prioritizing illegal exploitation of the state’s agricultural and mineral resources over the protection of its people. The group expressed outrage at Governor Alia’s silence during the killings and his sudden assertiveness only after youths protested the massacre, suggesting that the governor is complacent with the ongoing violence but intolerant of civil demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that the wave of violence is not merely communal clashes but a “directed, planned, and executed” act of terrorism. UAD condemned the failure of both federal and state governments to prevent the bloodshed or bring perpetrators to justice, calling the situation “horrible” and “appalling.”
The group’s demand for resignations comes amid growing public outcry and protests in Benue and nationwide, as well as international condemnation, including from the United Nations, which is monitoring the crisis closely. President Tinubu is expected to visit Benue to assess the situation following widespread calls for urgent government intervention.
The killings are part of a broader pattern of insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, with over 2,000 Nigerians killed in the first quarter of 2025 alone, including 101 deaths in Benue State. Security agencies have launched operations to apprehend the attackers, and additional troops have been deployed, but the violence continues to fuel displacement and humanitarian crises.
UAD’s statement underscores the urgent need for accountable leadership and effective security measures to restore peace and protect Nigerians from further atrocities.
