National Coordinator criticizes Tinubu’s “belated” visit, urges state of emergency as over 200 people are killed in Benue
Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, has sharply criticized the Federal Government’s response to ongoing mass killings across Nigeria, stating that the provision of palliatives like “cartons of noodles” is an insult to the lives lost and does not address the country’s deep-rooted security challenges.
Tanko made the remarks during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, on Wednesday. His comments come in the wake of last Friday’s massacre in Yelwata, a community along the Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja federal highway, where over 200 people were reportedly killed in yet another tragic instance of mass violence.
Tanko slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s planned visit to Benue State as “a belated reaction,” accusing the administration of maintaining a culture of indifference in the face of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
“For us in the Obidient Movement, this is a belated visit,” Tanko declared. “It is not the first time these kinds of attacks are happening. They have occurred repeatedly in Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, and Benue, yet what we see is inaction until lives have been lost.”
Tanko questioned the lack of concrete follow-up actions after such attacks, pointing to the absence of arrests and investigations.
“Nobody has been arrested. Has anyone asked why the attacks happened? Have the victims been asked to tell their stories?” he asked.
“Noodles Is Not the Solution”
Tanko was particularly outraged by the federal government’s reliance on palliative distributions to communities affected by terror and banditry, arguing that these efforts do nothing to address the systemic failures of the nation’s security apparatus.
“Noodles is not the solution to insecurity,” Tanko said. “It’s a shame that when Nigerians are being slaughtered, the government’s response is to show up late with cartons of food. Do the lives of Nigerians not matter at all?”
His comments have resonated with citizens across social media, many of whom have long criticized the symbolic gestures that follow tragic events without any meaningful structural change.
Over 200 Feared Dead in Yelwata Attack
The most recent attack in Yelwata has sent shockwaves across the country. According to community leaders and residents, the assailants—suspected to be armed herders or militia groups—descended on the village at night, killing hundreds and setting homes ablaze.
The area, situated along a major highway connecting Benue, Nasarawa, and Abuja, has long been a hotspot for violence. Local residents say the attackers operated for hours without any intervention from security agencies, who only arrived after the carnage had been completed.
Survivors of the attack are now left homeless and traumatized, with makeshift camps springing up nearby to accommodate displaced persons. The death toll, though estimated at over 200, may rise as more bodies are discovered in nearby forests and farmlands.
“This Didn’t Start With Tinubu, But He Must Act”
Tanko acknowledged that Nigeria’s insecurity predates the current administration but insisted that the responsibility to act now lies squarely on President Tinubu’s shoulders.
“This issue is not new to the security surf of Nigeria. Insecurity did not start with this government, we know that. Neither did it start with the administration of former President Buhari. It’s been happening since the time of President Goodluck Jonathan when the Boko Haram insurgents were active, and it continued under Muhammadu Buhari. The problem was never uprooted from the grassroots.”
He said successive governments have failed to address the structural causes of insecurity and have instead resorted to reactive, short-term solutions that only postpone future crises.
“It’s a recurring cycle: there’s a massacre, the government sends relief materials, and the community is left vulnerable again. This cannot be our standard response to terrorism and armed conflict,” he added.
Call for a National Emergency on Security
As a long-term solution, Tanko called on President Tinubu to declare a national state of emergency on security, arguing that only a bold, comprehensive, and strategic approach can stop the ongoing violence across the country.
“This is no longer a political issue—it’s a national emergency,” Tanko said. “We are calling on the President to declare a state of emergency on insecurity and work with civil society, security experts, and local communities to find a lasting solution.”
He urged the government to focus on intelligence gathering, modernizing the security infrastructure, and holding security agencies accountable for failures.
“We can’t continue like this. Nigeria deserves better. People should be able to go to sleep without fear of being killed in their own homes.”
Rising Calls for Accountability
Tanko’s remarks come as civil society organizations and regional leaders increase pressure on the federal government to take urgent action. Human rights groups have demanded investigations into the failure of security operatives to prevent or respond swiftly to attacks such as the one in Yelwata.
There is also growing concern about the country’s internal displacement crisis. In Benue alone, tens of thousands of citizens have been displaced due to recurring violence in recent years.
As President Tinubu prepares to visit the state, citizens and advocacy groups are demanding more than just words and ceremonial gestures. They are calling for justice, protection, and long-term peace strategies that prioritize human lives over political optics.
