⚖️ After the Tragedy: Where is President Tinubu's Task Force?

⚖️ After the Tragedy: Where is President Tinubu's Task Force?

As the nation absorbs the shock of the Benue massacre, which took the lives of over 200 innocent Nigerians, the federal government's lack of a prompt and robust response has raised numerous concerns. The presidency's tepid reaction, encapsulated in a vague press statement, has incited widespread outrage and disbelief. The absence of urgent security briefings, presidential visits to the affected areas, high-level press conferences, and coordinated military responses highlights the emptiness of the government's claims to prioritize the safety and well-being of its citizens. Continued attacks on rural and Christian communities, which have resulted in thousands of deaths over the past five years, have turned Benue State into a killing ground, with the presidency's response reduced to mere condolences and unfulfilled promises.

The inaction of Nigeria's security agencies—including the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), State CID, and NSCDC—has cast serious doubt on their ability to prevent mass killings and safeguard the lives of Nigerians. Their failure to classify herder-linked militias as terrorist organizations, despite court rulings, has empowered these groups and obstructed international sanctions and funding restrictions. Security experts caution that high-level interference, fragmentation, and bureaucratic delays within the national security apparatus have enabled ongoing violence and a culture of impunity. The presidency's silence and the government's refusal to take decisive action have fostered an environment prone to additional massacres. As the nation mourns its losses and seeks justice, it is essential for the government to implement tangible measures to address the shortcomings of its security framework. Key security officials should be summoned by the National Assembly for urgent questioning, and the presidency must initiate a thorough overhaul of the internal security system, complete with transparent progress updates.

The National Human Rights Commission and Civil Society Organizations must conduct an independent inquiry into state complicity, negligence, or interference in the Benue massacre. The time for diplomatic niceties has passed; now is the time for accountability and action. The Benue massacre starkly illustrates the repercussions of policy failures and national neglect. It is a urgent call for the government to reform its security strategies, enhance community policing, and expose and prosecute those politically connected to violence. The people of Nigeria deserve more than hollow condolences and vague press statements. They demand justice, accountability, and a government that genuinely prioritizes the protection of its citizens.

The choice before Nigeria is clear: will it continue to allow darkness to prevail, or will it rise to confront it? Will it excuse the perpetrators, or fight for the living? The nation's very soul is at stake.