Young Citizens Protest Underreporting: ‘Go, Go! We Don’t Need You!’
By Ekani Olikita
(Makurdi) Holy Week in Benue State was Holy Hell for Catholics and Anglicans in east Benue State, a war-torn region known as Sankera.
Already traumatized by years of incessant Fulani-ethnic Militia attacks on Christian settlements throughout the state, the wanton massacres in Sankera on April 17 and 18 were too much for many to bear without snapping, according to witnesses speaking to TruthNigeria. Up to 90 percent of the residents of Sankera are Catholic or Anglican, local churchmen say.
Tensions escalated further when Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, visited the affected communities on Saturday April 19. Earlier on Friday, Governor Alia had claimed that only five people were killed, a statement that drew widespread condemnation and disbelief. On Saturday, April 19, 2025 while addressing press in Zaki-Biam, Ukum County Headquarters during his visit to Logo and Ukum, Governor Alia announced that the Death Toll had increased to 56.
In contrast, the Benue State Police Command had placed the official figure at 17 deaths, a discrepancy that further fueled anger among grieving residents.
During the governor’s visit to Zaki-Biam on Saturday, angry Catholic youths confronted the state leader, accusing him of downplaying the tragedy. In a widely circulated video, protesters could be seen waving leaves and chanting, “Go! Go! We don’t need you!” as the governor’s convoy was forced to leave under hostile conditions.
“The governor’s statement was not only inaccurate, but it was also deeply insensitive,” said one protester who declined to be named. “We buried our friends and families while he claimed only five people died. How can we trust such leadership?”
Governor Alia, a former Catholic priest, had come to assess the scale of destruction and offer condolences but was unable to calm the anger of residents who felt abandoned.
Call for Federal Intervention
Speaking to journalists later Saturday, Governor Alia condemned the attacks, describing them as “unprovoked and barbaric.” He urged the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu to intervene and provide immediate support to communities under siege in Benue State.
“These acts of terror are unacceptable. The Benue people are crying for help,” he stated. “We call on the Federal Government to take decisive steps to restore peace and protect lives.”
Despite his appeal, critics say the state government’s response has been sluggish and ineffective. Humanitarian assistance remains limited, and many displaced families are yet to receive food or shelter.
The Ethnicity Issue
The Fulani tribe is one of Nigeria’s largest, and a small fraction of its members are linked to rampant insurgency, according to the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington.
The death toll from Fulani Militia’s brutal attacks on Ukum and Logo counties in Benue State has risen to 72.
The rise in the number of deaths followed the discovery of 13 more bodies on Friday, April 18.
While giving an update about the number of casualties on Monday, April 21, 2025, the Principal Special Assistant (PSA) to Benue Governor on Media and Content Creation, Isaac Uzaan, put the casualty figure at 72.
The attacks on Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala counties (Sankera land), began late Thursday evening and continued into Good Friday, leaving communities reeling and prompted outrage across the state.
The violent onslaught, timed during the most venerated weekend of the Christian calendar —a sacred period commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ—devastated predominantly Christian communities in eastern Benue State. Residents described scenes of carnage as attackers shot indiscriminately and razed homes.
Coordinated Assault During Holy Observance
According to eyewitnesses and community sources, approximately 200 armed militants, believed to be Fulani ethnic militia, stormed multiple villages across Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala local government areas beginning late on Thursday, April 17.
“The attacks were systematic and targeted. They came in groups, shooting anyone in sight and burning down properties,” said Prince Livinus Tyodoo, a prominent youth leader and former Senior Aide to a past Benue governor. “Our people were celebrating Good Friday. They were caught completely off guard.”
Initial body counts were conducted by local volunteers and religious leaders. TruthNigeria confirmed that 31 bodies were recovered and deposited at St. Anthony Hospital Mortuary in Zaki-Biam, the administrative headquarters of Ukum, by the afternoon of April 18. A further 25 corpses were recovered early Saturday, bringing the official death toll to 56.
However, local leaders and residents insist the actual number of the fatalities could be well over 100, noting that some areas remain inaccessible due to insecurity. “There are still bodies in the bushes and burned homes,” said Elder Christopher Ayati, a respected community leader. “We fear many families have been wiped out entirely.”
Escalating Crisis in the Middle Belt
The attacks are the latest in a spate of deadly violence attributed to Fulani ethnic militia, a group that has been responsible for hundreds of deaths across Nigeria’s Middle Belt in recent years. Clashes over land, grazing rights, and religion have intensified, exacerbated by weak law enforcement and rising ethnic tensions.
Benue State, which is predominantly Christian and agrarian, has been especially hard-hit, with recurring violence displacing thousands and destroying livelihoods.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have consistently called on the Nigerian government to address the root causes of these killings and to prosecute perpetrators. Yet, impunity remains widespread.
International Outcry
Scott Morgan, a Washington-based security analyst, described the violence as a “relentless campaign” against Christians. “I expected the Nigerian military to respond with drones, helicopters, and night vision equipment,” Morgan said. “But they’ve done nothing. It would be a first if these killers were ever brought to justice.”
Kyle Abts, Director of the U.S.-based International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), called for Nigeria’s re-designation as a Country of Particular Concern under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act. “The killings in Plateau and Benue are a heartbreaking reminder of how insecure these communities are,” Abts said. “Despite the scale of the atrocities, no meaningful arrests have been made.”
ICON is lobbying in Washington for the passage of House Resolution 220 and continued international pressure on Nigeria. “We are amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities and demanding real accountability,” Abts said. “Justice must not just be promised—it must be delivered.”
As of now, residents of Ukum and Logo continue to count their dead, bury their loved ones, and brace for what may come next.
Ekani Olikita is a conflict reporter with TruthNigeria, specializing in coverage of ethnic and religious violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
