Worried by what he termed government inaction to stop the unwarranted killings in Benue state, a cleric, Evangelist Shaala Ukaa, yesterday, condemned in strong terms, the “ongoing massacre” in the state, labeling it a deliberate campaign of ethnic cleansing.
In a statement made available to newsmen, he said that the wanton killings in Benue state is not a random violence but a calculated attempt to erase a people from the face of the earth and called on government and the international community to rise up to the challenges.
“What is happening in Benue is not random violence. It is a calculated attempt to erase a people—an indigenous heritage—off the face of this nation.” “And to that, we say: Enough is enough.”
He narrated that for years, Fulani herdsmen have unleashed brutal and systematic attacks across Benue communities. “What some have described as “clashes” are, in fact, organized massacres aimed at displacing indigenous populations, destroying agrarian livelihoods, and shattering cultural continuity”.
“Entire communities—Guma, Logo, Ukum, Kwande, Katsina-Ala, Agatu, and more have been turned into war zones. Fields once rich with crops now lie soaked in blood. “This is not just about land. It is about domination and destruction,” Ukaa emphasized, saying “This is genocide in slow motion.”
Evangelist Ukaa further pointed to similar patterns of violence in parts of Plateau State, stating, “The fire of this terror is not restricted to Benue alone. Plateau has also borne its scars. But Benue remains the epicenter of this national tragedy.”
He reminded Nigerians of the critical and often overlooked role the Benue people played in holding the country together during the Civil War.
“We stood as a shield when the nation was on the brink of collapse. We bled to keep Nigeria united. Yet, for 26 years of democratic rule, we have seen nothing, but neglect. Our roads are death traps. The Abuja-Makurdi road has been turned into a corridor of suffering, lined with four toll gates that exploit our people daily—while the North enjoys well-constructed roads without such burdens. Is this our reward for loyalty? Is this how a nation repays a people who kept it from falling apart?”, he queried.
He decried government’s failure to respond with decisive action, calling it a “betrayal of constitutional responsibility and a stain on the conscience of our leadership.”
“Silence in the face of this evil is complicity. The blood of our people is on the hands of those who have chosen inaction over justice.”
Evangelist Ukaa called for an immediate end to the violence, prosecution of the perpetrators, and an international investigation into the atrocities. He appealed to human rights bodies, global faith leaders, and international media to recognize and respond to the ongoing ethnic cleansing.
He revealed that in response to the devastation, churches and communities across Benue are organizing solemn assemblies, fasting, and corporate prayer.
“We will not be broken. We will pray like Nehemiah, cry out like David, and call for justice like Elijah. Heaven will hear us.”
He urged traditional rulers and clergy to raise spiritual altars of intercession and unity.