The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned the recent wave of violence in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where several lives were lost in yet another spate of deadly attacks.
In a statement released on Monday, the NUJ described the killings as part of a troubling pattern of insecurity that continues to shake the foundations of the country and stain Nigeria’s reputation on the global stage.
“These killings, in Yelwata, are not isolated,” the union said. “They come in succession to other tragedies across the nation, underlining a systemic failure that diminishes public confidence and tarnishes the international image of Nigeria.”
The union emphasized that the security of lives and property remains the most basic and sacred obligation of government — a duty, it lamented, that Nigerian leaders have struggled to uphold over the past 15 years.
Drawing on Nigeria’s history of peacekeeping across Africa, the NUJ questioned the country’s apparent inability to maintain peace within its own borders.
“How can a country that sacrificed soldiers for peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone now appear helpless at home?” the statement queried. “Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Yet, this remains an unfulfilled promise.”
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The NUJ further stressed that insecurity is not just a regional concern, but a national crisis. From the North to the South, East to West, violent attacks have persisted — often with little accountability or effective response.
The statement added: “The massacre in Benue is one killing too many. It must stir the conscience of the nation. This is a moment that demands collective outrage and unified resistance against those who bring terror to our doorsteps — whether they be terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, herdsmen, or unknown gunmen.”
The union called on the federal government and security agencies to rise to the challenge and confront the growing insecurity with renewed resolve and strategic force.
“It is time,” the NUJ concluded, “to turn grief into action and protect the sanctity of life in Nigeria.”