Massacres In Benue and Plateau: Civil Society Demands Justice, Action From FG
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
A coalition of civil society groups has issued a strong call for justice and immediate government intervention following the gruesome killings of at least 183 people in Benue and Plateau States in the third week of April 2025.
Operating under the banner of Nigeria Mourns, the Community of Practice Against Mass Atrocities described the attacks on agrarian communities as “acts of terror” and not mere farmer-herder clashes.
The coordinated assaults left dozens dead in villages across Otukpo, Logo, Ukum, Agatu, and Bokkos, with reports of armed men targeting sleeping families and farmers on their lands.
“These are not isolated incidents,” the coalition stressed. “They reflect a systemic failure to protect vulnerable Nigerians.”
From 2019 to 2024, over 2,000 people were reportedly killed in similar attacks across the country.
The coalition accused the federal government of “selective urgency,” pointing out its swift response to political issues while communities are left to suffer in silence.
Citing constitutional provisions, the group reminded the government that the “security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” and demanded independent investigations, aerial surveillance, drone monitoring, compensation for victims’ families, and support for community-led security initiatives.
“The lives lost are not mere statistics,” the statement concluded. “The government must act now—not only to restore peace but to uphold its constitutional legitimacy.”
Among the signatories are Global Rights, CISLAC, the Centre for Democracy and Development, and over 20 other human rights and development organisations.
