THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Wednesday visit to Benue State, describing it as a theatrical charade devoid of substance, empathy, or a genuine plan to end the relentless bloodshed perpetrated by terrorists masquerading as herders.
In a statement released Thursday in Abuja, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the visit was merely a photo opportunity aimed at pacifying public outrage, while the fundamental problems, military intelligence failures and compromised policing, remain unaddressed under Tinubu’s administration.
“President Tinubu’s visit to Benue was a state-sponsored insult to the memory of the dead and the pain of thousands of displaced families who continue to suffer from unchecked terror attacks,” HURIWA stated. “What Nigeria needs is not political optics but a concrete, intelligence-driven counter-terrorism strategy led by competent security leadership. Instead, we see a President more interested in grandstanding than saving lives.”
HURIWA expressed grave concern over the repeated attacks on Benue communities without any proactive response from security forces.
“Where is the DSS? Where is military intelligence? How do armed Fulani terrorists continue to mobilise, strike, and disappear without resistance or consequence?,” the group queried.
Citing the recent attack on Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area, where over 100 people were massacred in their sleep and more than 3,000 residents displaced, HURIWA decried the President’s failure to visit the affected area or meet with survivors. Instead, Tinubu opted for a photo-friendly appearance in Makurdi town.
“This omission is not just insensitive; it is a slap in the face of every Benue citizen,” the association declared.
HURIWA also condemned President Tinubu’s continued retention of underperforming service chiefs, a docile Inspector-General of Police, and a lethargic DSS leadership, attributing it to nepotistic bias.
“Appointments in Nigeria’s security sector under this administration are driven more by ethnic and political interests than competence or track record,” the group said. “By tolerating failure and rewarding gross negligence, Tinubu is emboldening terrorists and further fracturing national unity.”
The association singled out the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for presiding over a total collapse of community policing, especially in rural areas across the North Central region. It further accused the DSS of neglecting its constitutional mandate to preempt threats before they erupt into violence.
“Why are entire communities being decimated without any prior intelligence alerts? Is the DSS only effective when clamping down on journalists or protesters?,” HURIWA asked.
HURIWA said the administration has shown more urgency in defending political appointees and controversial economic policies than in protecting Nigerian lives.
“We all remember how quickly the President defended ministerial nominees and pushed through fuel subsidy removal. But when it comes to the slaughter of children in Benue, widows in Plateau, or farmers in Taraba, all we get is silence and staged condolence visits,” the group remarked.
According to HURIWA, the Federal Government’s approach to the Benue crisis reeks of ethnic bias and institutional neglect. The group warned that without urgent restructuring of the national security architecture, Nigeria risks descending deeper into anarchy.
HURIWA, therefore, demanded the immediate dismissal and replacement of all underperforming service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and heads of intelligence agencies. It also urged the National Assembly to initiate a bicameral security performance audit of all federal security institutions.
The rights group further advocated for the creation of a Special Civilian Protection Corps to legally empower vetted community members to defend themselves under military or police supervision, an initiative that must be established through enabling legislation.
“Enough of these meaningless visits. Nigerians deserve leaders who act, not performers staging public relations dramas,” HURIWA stated.
The association concluded by reaffirming its unwavering commitment to speaking truth to power and standing with vulnerable communities abandoned by those entrusted to protect them.
Follow us on all social media platforms @dailyquery for news and analyses around the globe.
