The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, has strongly condemned the horrific attacks that claimed the lives of over 200 civilians in Benue State, Nigeria, over the weekend.
In a statement released on Monday, Guterres described the killings as deeply disturbing and urged that the perpetrators be swiftly identified and held accountable.
“We’re monitoring the situation. 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,” said Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.
The attacks, which occurred in Yelewata village and surrounding areas, saw dozens of residents killed in their sleep and entire households burnt to ashes. Several others were displaced as armed assailants unleashed destruction in the region.
Reacting to the tragedy, President Bola Tinubu expressed his deep sorrow and condemned the brutal assault. He called upon leaders and residents in the state to embrace peace, love, and mutual understanding to prevent further bloodshed.
As part of efforts to restore calm, President Tinubu is scheduled to visit Benue State on Wednesday, where he will engage with traditional rulers, political leaders, religious figures, community stakeholders, and youth groups to seek lasting solutions to the recurrent violence troubling the region.
The Benue massacre has sparked widespread outrage both locally and internationally, with human rights organizations and civil society groups demanding urgent security reforms and justice for the victims.
