Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sent a strong message to the government over the continued killings in Benue State, declaring: “Enough is enough: Benue cannot bleed in silence.”
In a strong emotional statement on his X, following a fresh deadly attack in Benue State that has left scores of villagers dead and displaced hundreds, sparking protests by grieving citizens who were reportedly dispersed by security operatives, Atiku called out the silence and inaction of government officials while families in Benue continue to bury their loved ones in mass graves. He described the worsening attacks on rural communities as “a brutal and heart-wrenching reality that can no longer be ignored.”
Atiku did not only mourn with the people — he demanded real action. He said the people of Benue are not asking for too much. “They simply want to live in peace, farm without fear, and raise their children without violence.”
He further warned that the use of force against peaceful protesters in the State is not only unacceptable but “a betrayal of leadership.” He described it as “pouring hot oil on an open wound.”
“When people take to the streets to protest, they are not inciting rebellion — they are crying for help,” he said.
The former Vice President criticized both federal and state leaders for what he described as a “frightening normalisation of violence” and an “indifference that is damning.”
He said the pain in Benue reflects a national crisis, as communities in Plateau, Kaduna, Taraba, and Zamfara are also under siege from bandits and attackers, yet nothing meaningful is being done to stop it.
“History will not be kind to those who chose power over people,” he warned.
Atiku urged security agencies to stop treating victims like criminals and called on government at all levels to immediately craft a working security plan that protects citizens — not just in words, but in action.
He also encouraged citizens not to keep quiet but to raise their voices and demand justice.
