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Tinubu visited Benue state, the site of the recent deadly
attacks, seeking to calm tensions and promise justice for the
victims. “We will restore peace, rebuild, and bring the
perpetrators to justice. You are not alone.” the Nigerian leader
said on X.
Assailants stormed Benue state’s Yelewata community from Friday
night till Saturday morning, opening fire on villagers who were
asleep and setting their homes ablaze, survivors and the local
farmers union said. Many of those killed were sheltering in a
local market after fleeing violence in other parts of the state.
Authorities in Benue state blamed herdsmen for the attack, a
type of violence frequently seen in northern Nigeria's
decadeslong pastoral conflict.
Opposition leaders and critics have accused Tinubu of a delayed
response to the killings, noting his office issued a statement
over 24 hours after the attack. His visit to the state occurred
five days later.
The Nigerian leader traveled to Makurdi, Benue State’s capital,
where he visited a hospital to see those injured in the attack
and met with local leaders to discuss how to end the killings.
He did not visit the Yelewata community.
He also appeared to reprimand the police for not making any
arrest yet more than four days after the killings.
“How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an
arrest of those criminals,” Tinubu asked as he addressed senior
police officers during a gathering in Benue.
Analysts blame Nigeria's worsening security crisis on a lack of
political will to go after criminals and ensure justice for
victims.
“In the end, the result is the same: No justice, no
accountability, and no closure for the victims and their
communities," said Senator Iroegbu, a security analyst based in
Nigeria's capital Abuja. “Until this changes, impunity will
remain the norm, and such tragedies will continue to occur.”
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