HURIWA Condemns Benue Massacre, Warns Of Ethnic War over Herdsmen Killings

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the recent massacre of over 200 people in Benue State by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen, warning that Nigeria is on the brink of a full-scale ethnic war if the government fails to act decisively.

HURIWA, in a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, described the killings in the Tiv-speaking communities of Yelewata and Daudu in Guma Local Government Area as a “crime against humanity” and a tragic reflection of federal negligence.

“This is a crime against humanity and a dangerous signal that Nigeria is sliding into an uncontrollable ethnic war,” said Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA.

“If the government does not halt these targeted killings, other ethnic groups may be forced to arm themselves in self-defence. That would be catastrophic.”

According to HURIWA, the attackers, believed to be armed herdsmen, launched coordinated assaults from two flanks, overwhelming local vigilante youth and police operatives before massacring civilians, including women, children, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering in makeshift camps and market stalls.

“These communities had alerted authorities about the impending attack, but no preventive action was taken,” Onwubiko said.

“The security agencies failed them, and the result was the brutal murder of innocent Nigerians who trusted their government to protect them.”

The group accused the military high command and the Inspector-General of Police of dereliction of duty, saying their continued retention in office undermines national security.

“The President is playing with fire by keeping security chiefs who have consistently failed to prevent mass killings,” Onwubiko stated.

“They are ensconced in their air-conditioned offices in Abuja while rural communities are slaughtered without consequence.”

HURIWA alleged a pattern of state complicity in the persistent insecurity plaguing regions like Benue. The group pointed to a recent viral video from Zamfara State in which government officials and army officers were seen negotiating with known terrorist masterminds.

“This shows clearly that the government is pampering terrorists instead of prosecuting them,” said Onwubiko. “When the rest of Nigeria reacts in kind, the consequences will be beyond comprehension.”

The organization traced the roots of the crisis to what it called the “willful negligence” of the previous administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that Fulani militias were allowed to stockpile sophisticated weapons without repercussions.

“The refusal to disarm Fulani insurgents and prosecute them has emboldened their activities,” Onwubiko claimed. “This impunity is pushing the country toward a crisis that could mirror — or even exceed — the horrors of the Central African Republic.”

Drawing a parallel to the Central AR conflict, HURIWA recalled how unresolved armed invasions and sectarian violence triggered a devastating civil war that has displaced millions and crippled governance.

“Nigeria is not immune to that kind of disintegration,” the group warned. “The signs are already here — mass killings, state failure, and ethnic mobilization.”

HURIWA also urged local and international civil society organizations to begin compiling evidence of atrocities for prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC), should the Nigerian government fail to act.

“We are calling for petitions to be filed at the ICC in The Hague,” said Onwubiko. “The world must know that those in power are failing to protect citizens — and that must carry consequences.”

HURIWA demanded the immediate removal and replacement of the current service chiefs. It called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint competent professionals with clear mandates to end terrorism and restore public confidence in the Nigerian state.

“Only a decisive, transparent, and rights-respecting security overhaul can prevent further bloodshed and preserve Nigeria’s unity,” HURIWA declared.

HURIWA Condemns Benue Massacre, Warns Of Ethnic War over Herdsmen Killings is first published on The Whistler Newspaper