Benue Killings Not Just Statistics, Says Rapper MI
Nigerian rapper and music executive, Jude Abaga, popularly known as MI, has joined many Nigerians in condemning the recent killings in Benue State and described the attacks as deeply heartbreaking and unacceptable.
In a post on Monday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, MI expressed anguish over the massacre and expressed solidarity with affected communities.
“My heart is heavy. It grieves me deeply to see so much of the Middle Belt bleed. The recent killings in Benue are not just statistics; they are our people, our families, our communities being torn apart,” he wrote.
He further said, “I stand in solidarity with my brothers and sisters in Benue. Your pain is my pain. We can’t normalise this cycle of violence that has plagued our land for too long. To those we’ve lost, we will not forget you. To those still standing, we stand with you.”
MI’s post follows the latest reports of mass killings in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where suspected herders allegedly carried out a two-day rampage, leaving over 200 people dead, with many displaced.
Leaders of the community reportedly said that the actual death toll could be significantly higher, with entire families reportedly wiped out and some victims burned alive.
The gruesome attacks have sparked national outrage, with social media platforms flooded by Nigerians demanding urgent government intervention and a possible declaration of a state of emergency in Benue.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a statement, described the escalating violence as “a national emergency,” urging both the Federal and Benue State governments to act swiftly and decisively.
He also called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the killings and a stronger security presence across the region.
Also, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Monday, confirmed that over 6,527 individuals have been displaced in multiple coordinated attacks by unidentified gunmen in various communities across Benue State.
The agency said the displaced comprise 1,768 females, 759 males, 657 children under 18, 1,870 adults above 18, 252 lactating mothers, 82 pregnant women, and 91 elderly persons.
On Saturday, June 14, the Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State witnessed multiple horrific coordinated attacks by unidentified gunmen. Reports indicated that over 200 lives were lost in the attack.
“Multiple coordinated attacks by unidentified gunmen have targeted various communities across Benue State. The most recent incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the Yelewata community in the Guma Local Government Area,” the statement partly read.
“Over 3,000 individuals, including many women and children, have been displaced and are in urgent need of food, non-food items (NFIs), potable water, and essential medical supplies.
“As of last night, displacement figures stood at 1,069 households, comprising 6,527 individuals. Among them are 1,768 females, 759 males, 657 children under 18, 1,870 adults above 18, 252 lactating mothers, 82 pregnant women, and 91 elderly persons.”
Benue Killings Not Just Statistics, Says Rapper MI is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
