By Vincent Egunyanga, Anthony Otaru, Ben Adoga & David Lawani
The recent massacre of over 200 residents in Yelwata, Benue State, allegedly by armed Fulani herders, has sparked national outrage with leading voices from civil society, religious institutions, the political class, and the security community demanding justice, accountability, and comprehensive reforms to halt what many describe as a descent into organised terror.
Despite a visit by President Bola Tinubu to Benue to appeal for peace, survivors and stakeholders say justice must be served to restore hope and forestall reprisal attacks.
Senator Seriake Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, in an interview with Arise TV, warned that the sanctity of human life must take precedence over any economic value of livestock.
“No society should ignore acts of terror. Competing with cattle for space is unacceptable. We must end the culture of destruction over cattle and urgently reform livestock practices,” he stressed.
Labour Party’s Peter Obi criticised President Tinubu for failing to visit Yelwata directly, citing the poor road network as a disgrace.
“Nigeria cannot be built on excuses. True leaders must sacrifice, not avoid the people in pain. Justice must be done,” he said.
*Pressure mounts on FG to rethink strategy, embrace foreign help
Emeka Oraetoka, a public affairs analyst and non-kinetic security strategist, has criticised the Federal Government’s recent “Proof of Address Initiative,” which he claims is ill-suited to address the scale and sophistication of Nigeria’s insecurity.
“Is this initiative meant to fight petty crimes like pickpocketing or one-chance operations?” he asked. “If the government thinks it will stop terrorism, banditry, or insurgency, then it is tragically misguided.”
Oraetoka posits that insurgency in Nigeria is a form of subversion—a planned, systematic attempt to overthrow state authority—and must be treated as such.
“You cannot fight subversion with conventional tactics,” he insisted. Instead, he recommends the adoption of a Scientific Intelligence Gathering System (SIGS), which he describes as a data-driven, citizen-centred model that bypasses the well-documented trust deficit between security agencies and the populace.
“A major reason why Nigerians do not report crime is the fear of reprisal and a lack of trust in the system,” he noted. “Technology-based solutions like phone hotlines are vulnerable to hacking and surveillance. What we need is a secure, analogue, anonymous reporting mechanism—something like the Anonymous Mail-In Crime Report (AMICR) system.”
Oraetoka explained that AMICR is a community-based, offline intelligence solution where citizens anonymously submit written reports to designated police or postal offices. The system, which includes coded proof of submission, enables traceability and verification without compromising the informant’s safety.
He drew a parallel with the United States’ establishment of the Department of Homeland Security after the September 11 attacks. “Fewer than 30 people killed almost 4,000 in the US,” he said. “The US learned that it’s better to prevent organised crime than to react to it. Nigeria must learn the same lesson before more lives are lost.”
Pastor Peter Emuekpere of RCCG, High Ground Area, Abuja, condemned the killings and urged the federal government to deploy military force immediately.
“Enough is enough. Empower the military to root out these killers. States and local governments must support vigilantes to protect vulnerable communities,” he urged.
Civil Society leader Alphonsus Okorafor traced the roots of the conflict to the 1980s when armed herders replaced traditional ones.
“What used to be disputes over grazing has now turned into organised land grabs, killings, and genocide. The time has come to adopt ranching and enforce anti-open grazing laws nationwide,” he said.
He advocated state and community policing, warning:
“A single, centralised police system can’t secure 200 million people. We must localise security and secure our porous borders.”
A retired Army colonel, who spoke under anonymity, criticised government inertia, saying that existing intelligence is being ignored.
“Security reports are on the President’s desk. What we need now are leaders of courage. No more kid gloves. Prosecute the perpetrators and seize their assets,” he demanded.
He warned that those aspiring to lead must be prepared to handle national security.
“You can’t lead Nigeria and not be ready to tackle terrorism.”
A Benue indigene, Aondohemberh Acka, praised Tinubu’s commitment but demanded tangible action.
“Let him rout out the killers, prosecute them publicly, and support the enforcement of anti-open grazing laws. Let Benue people unite and resist invaders,” he said.
He urged the government to “match words with action” so that locals don’t resort to self-defence.
Alhaji Usman Katum Umar of the West Africa Journalists Network described the insecurity as an “industry” that benefits vested interests.
“Security agencies deliberately allow these crises to fester. The bloodshed has become a budget justification tool,” he claimed.
Umar recommended persistent community dialogue but lamented:
“We have passed the stage of easy fixes. Deep-rooted pain and distrust now define these communities. Only dialogue can offer long-term healing.”
*Catholic Bishops declare day of prayer
In a strong statement, the Catholic Bishops of the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, led by Archbishop Valerian Okeke and Bishop Peter Nworie Chukwu, condemned the attacks as “inhuman” and declared June 20 a special day of prayer and fasting.
“Government must restore security, justice, and peace. Nigeria cannot thrive under unchecked violence,” the bishops said, calling on the faithful to offer Masses and Rosaries for victims.
Security analyst Emeka Oraetoka dismissed the “Proof of Address Initiative” as ineffective against terrorism and organised crime.
“Terrorism can’t be fought with conventional policing. We need an Effective Intelligence Management System powered by Scientific Intelligence,” he argued.
He proposed an Anonymous Mail-in Crime Reporting (AMICR) system modelled after the US Department of Homeland Security.
“Citizens must be empowered to give intel without fear. AMICR can plug the trust gap between the police and communities.”
Paul Adoiza Omoluabi, a lawyer and pastor, emphasised that justice—not political rhetoric—is what victims need.
“Unless the root causes are addressed, the cycle of violence will continue. Identify and prosecute the attackers. The people demand justice.”
