United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has strongly denounced the recent violent attacks in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, which claimed the lives of numerous civilians over the weekend. The tragic incident, which occurred in the village of Yelewata, reportedly left dozens of residents dead—many of whom were killed while asleep—and displaced several others.
Guterres, through his Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, expressed grave concern about the situation and called for accountability, urging that those behind the heinous acts be swiftly identified and brought to justice. Haq emphasized that the UN is closely monitoring developments and reaffirmed the Secretary-General’s firm stance against the killing of innocent civilians, not only in Nigeria but globally.
In response to the worsening crisis, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also condemned the violence and appealed to both local leaders and citizens to embrace peace, unity, and mutual respect. Acknowledging the pain and suffering caused by the attacks, Tinubu extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and all those affected by the turmoil.
As part of efforts to restore peace and address the persistent communal conflicts in Benue, President Tinubu is scheduled to visit the state on Wednesday. During his visit, he will engage with key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political figures, religious and community leaders, and youth representatives. The aim of the dialogue is to explore practical and sustainable solutions to the violence that has plagued communities in the region for years.
The United Nations and the Nigerian government both emphasize the urgent need to end the cycle of violence and prioritize the protection of civilians and the restoration of security in Benue and surrounding areas.