The United Nations has acknowledged that it is monitoring the ongoing massacre in Benue State.
This was disclosed by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
“We’re monitoring the situation,” he said.
“The Secretary-General condemns the killing of innocent civilians, including in Nigeria, and we hope that those responsible for this violence will be found and apprehended.”
This development comes amid growing outrage over the continued killings and the seeming inability of the government to halt the massacres.
In a related development, Amnesty International, in a strongly-worded statement, said: “The horrifying killing of over 100 people by gunmen that invaded Yelewata from late Friday into the early hours of Saturday shows the security measures government claims to be implementing in the state are not working.”
The human rights watchdog decried the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, warning that “the Nigerian authorities must immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue State and bring the actual perpetrators to justice.”Travel guides for Nigeria
SaharaReporters also reported that three security operatives lost their lives in the Yelewata assault, while 16 others were wounded.
The incident is part of a grim pattern: just days earlier, on June 10, three youths were ambushed and killed in Edikwu-G’Icho, Apa LGA, and another man, Sunday Dutse, was murdered along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu road in Agatu LGA.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, speaking in a previous interview with Channels Television, said: “We are under siege,” adding that the wave of violence is “directed, planned, and executed,” not merely spontaneous communal clashes.
“We are receiving intel, and 60 to 65 percent of it has proven accurate,” Alia said, warning that the state is facing organized acts of terrorism.
According to SBM Intelligence, over 2,000 Nigerians were killed in the first quarter of 2025, with Benue State accounting for 101 of those deaths. The report also revealed that 136 security personnel were killed within the same period, painting a troubling picture of the scale of violence across the country.Travel guides for Nigeria
President Bola Tinubu, following a series of public outcries, is expected to visit Benue on Wednesday after stating that "he would adjust his schedule to visit the state."
This was contained in a press statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
"President Bola Tinubu has rescheduled his official visit to Kaduna State. Instead, he will travel to Benue State on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, as part of renewed efforts to foster peace and address the persistent conflict affecting communities in the state," the statement read in part.
"The President's visit aims to assess firsthand the recurring crisis that has claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction."
It was further stated that "during his stay, President Tinubu will meet with all stakeholders—including traditional rulers, political, religious, community leaders, and youth groups—to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities."
"In preparation for the visit, President Tinubu has already dispatched the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees to Benue State."
The statement also noted that the President is expected to hold a town hall meeting with all stakeholders during the visit.
"According to his itinerary released over the weekend, President Tinubu was scheduled to visit Kaduna State on Wednesday to commission various state government projects. However, the official visit will now occur on Thursday, June 19, 2025."
