Catholic Bishops in Nigeria Condemn Tinubu Administration Over Killings in Benue State

The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria have issued a strong condemnation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over its handling of violent killings in Benue State, accusing the federal government of negligence and failing in its primary duty to protect citizens.

The statement came amid growing outrage over continued attacks by suspected armed herdsmen in various communities across the state, resulting in mounting civilian casualties.

According to a report by Sahara Reporters, the Catholic Bishops, under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), expressed deep concern about what they described as the federal government’s silence and inaction in the face of ongoing violence and insecurity in Benue and other parts of the Middle Belt. They said the situation amounts to a gross failure of leadership.

The bishops called on the Tinubu-led government to urgently rise to its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property. They also warned that the ongoing killings, if left unchecked, could lead to a total breakdown of law and order, as citizens may begin to resort to self-defense.

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In their joint statement, the clerics criticized what they termed the indifference of security agencies and the federal authorities, saying that such a posture emboldens the perpetrators of violence.

They noted that hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed, injured, or displaced in Benue over the past few months, yet no significant response has come from Abuja.

“Life is sacred and must be protected,” the bishops stated. “The continued killings in Benue State are unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue. We call on the federal government, especially President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to act swiftly and decisively.”

The religious leaders lamented the displacement of thousands of residents, many of whom are now living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps under dire humanitarian conditions. They described the humanitarian crisis in Benue as alarming, with inadequate food, shelter, and medical care compounding the trauma experienced by affected communities.

The bishops particularly condemned what they see as a recurring pattern of attacks targeting Christian-majority farming communities in Benue and other Middle Belt states. They questioned the federal government’s reluctance to label the attacks as terrorism and its failure to bring the attackers to justice.

They argued that the lack of arrests and prosecutions has created a climate of impunity, encouraging further atrocities. “When criminals are not held accountable, they are emboldened. That is the reality in Benue today,” the bishops said.

The CBCN also called on the international community and human rights organizations to pay closer attention to the crisis in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, urging them to put pressure on the Nigerian government to take urgent action. They said that the violence in Benue is not just a regional issue but a national emergency that threatens the stability of the entire country.

They further called on the National Assembly to conduct a comprehensive and independent investigation into the killings, assess the performance of security agencies, and recommend appropriate punitive measures where negligence is established.

The bishops appealed to Nigerians to remain peaceful but vigilant. They urged Christian communities to intensify prayers while also calling for solidarity from religious leaders across all faiths to speak out against the violence.

President Tinubu has yet to issue a formal response to the bishops’ criticism, and there has been no recent federal government statement specifically addressing the most recent wave of violence in Benue State. This silence has only fueled further condemnation from civil society groups and local leaders, who accuse the administration of ignoring the plight of rural communities.

Over the past decade, Benue State has experienced repeated episodes of violent conflict, largely attributed to clashes between farmers and herders. However, in recent years, the violence has escalated into what many now describe as coordinated attacks on vulnerable villages.

With the Catholic Church now adding its voice to the growing list of critics, pressure is mounting on President Tinubu’s administration to take firm action to end the killings and restore peace to the affected communities. Whether this will translate into concrete policy changes or enhanced security deployments remains to be seen.