“The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.”

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
(Diplomat, Lawyer, Philosopher & Third President of the United States of America)

Dear Active Citizen,

This week, over 150 lives were lost in Benue State. In Yelewata and neighbouring communities, entire families were slaughtered. Homes burned to ash. Bodies left charred in marketplaces. Thousands fled with nothing but their lives. This should have prompted an immediate national emergency response. Instead, it became an opportunity for political theatre.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Benue yesterday, June 18th. Rather than addressing a humanitarian catastrophe, his visit was presented as a routine rescheduled engagement. The Benue State Government's priority? Issuing circulars calling for "colourful shoulder-to-shoulder processions" and organized celebrations.

While bodies were still being counted, banners were being raised. While families mourned, music played. The survivors of the massacre were asked to provide a backdrop for pageantry. Two weeks prior, we were told the Chief of Army Staff would relocate to Benue to address the crisis. He arrived, took photographs, and returned to Abuja. No meaningful action followed.

The National Security Adviser remains conspicuously silent.

This Is Not Normal

When governance prioritizes image over human life, when accountability vanishes in the face of mass killings, the state abandons its core responsibility. Benue needs justice, not spectacle. Security, not showmanship. Arrests, not applause.

What You Can Do

Contact your representatives. Visit www.shineyoureye.org to find and reach your elected officials. Demand they take a public position on the Benue killings and the government's response. Help document the crisis: If you have information about the situation in Benue or are directly affected, contact us at [email protected]. Documentation creates accountability.

We must not grow numb to this. We must not let it pass without consequence.

PFN Lagos State, in partnership with Acts of Mercy and Sesor, has launched an emergency relief drive for Benue State. Displaced families urgently need basic necessities including food, clothing, shelter materials, and household items.

For full donation details, locations, and contact information, see the relief campaign flyer.

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Have a great weekend!
The EiE Nigeria Team.