CSOs demand justice for 183 killed in Benue, Plateau attacks

By Ukpono Ukpong

A coalition of civil society groups under the platform of Nigeria Mourns has demanded immediate justice and accountability for the brutal killing of at least 183 people in coordinated attacks on agrarian communities in Benue and Plateau States in April 2025.

Operating under the Community of Practice Against Mass Atrocities, the coalition strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as “acts of terror against vulnerable communities” and calling for urgent action to protect lives and secure justice.

“The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government,” the coalition emphasized, quoting Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

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The group noted that the attacks, often mischaracterized as farmer-herder conflicts, were in reality deliberate and coordinated acts of violence.

In Benue State alone, at least 11 people were killed in Akpa, Otukpo Local Government Area; 56 others were killed in Logo and Ukum LGAs, with further atrocities reported in Agatu, Kwande, and Katsina-Ala.

In Plateau State, the violence was equally devastating. “At least 54 people were killed in Zikke village, Bassa LGA of Plateau State, in addition to 52 others killed in six other villages within Bokkos LGA, Plateau State, in yet another targeted onslaught,” the coalition stated.

Eyewitnesses also confirmed the presence of armed assailants in Tyolough, Ukum LGA, further fueling fears of continuing violence.

The coalition asserted that the pattern and method of the attacks showed they were not isolated incidents but part of a broader systemic failure.

“It reflects a long-standing, systemic failure to address a crisis that has devastated agrarian communities for years,” they said, highlighting that from 2019 to 2024, at least 2,105 Nigerians were killed in similar attacks.

“These victims, men, women, children, and the elderly, were killed in their sleep, on their farms, and in their homes. Their only ‘crime’ was residing in rural communities in a country increasingly defined by insecurity as a characteristic of the neglect of the rural areas by the Nigerian government,” the coalition lamented.

The coalition further stressed that the killings constitute a gross violation of the Nigerian Constitution.

“This brazen disregard for human life violates Section 33(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to life. The continued erosion of this right is a stain on our collective conscience as Nigerians,” they said.

Identifying unresolved land use crises and illegal mining as root causes of the violence, the group called for urgent reforms.

“These crises are not merely about ownership or access, they are deeply tied to identity, survival, and economic control,” the coalition said, warning that ignoring these systemic issues would perpetuate the cycle of bloodshed.

Expressing disappointment at the federal government’s perceived inaction, the coalition stated, “We are deeply disturbed by the federal government’s inaction, especially when juxtaposed with the swiftness with which it addresses less consequential political matters elsewhere. This selective urgency further erodes public trust and confidence.”

The group issued several demands to the federal government, including the conduct of an independent investigation into all reported attacks, stronger security deployment, aerial surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force, and the introduction of drone surveillance systems in collaboration with state governments.

In addition, they urged the government to “put in the framework for compensation of victims’ families, and build commemorative monuments to honor their memory” as well as to “support the formation of community-led safety watches (community security) to bolster local response capabilities.”

Reaffirming their solidarity with the victims, the coalition declared: “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the bereaved families and displaced communities. We stand in solidarity with all victims of mass atrocities and reiterate that every Nigerian life matters. The government must act decisively now, not just to restore peace, but to preserve its own legitimacy, as enshrined in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.”