As over two billion professing Christians celebrate the symbolic resurrection of Jesus Christ over 2000 years after which signified his victory over death, it’s a measured Easter Sunday for millions of Nigerian faithful as a gale of grisly killings pockmark Plateau and Benue states, both in the Middle Belt area of the country.
Nigerians have become subdued and sober over the senseless killings, which they claim, may have gone beyond any authority as governments, at all levels, seem helpless.
The developments have raised posers on the essence of government and the wisdom of surrendering of some of their rights to the government in exchange for their welfare and security.
Channels Television reporys that, according to official data, over 100 residents were killed by bloodthirsty marauders who unleashed mayhem on communities in the Bokkos and Bassa local government areas of Plateau State. The death toll in the April 2025 attacks was the highest casualty figure in the spate of killings recorded in the state after daredevil criminals killed about 150 residents in Bokkos on Christmas Eve in 2023.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the fresh killing of his people by sophisticated-weapon-carrying marauders as genocidal, stating that over 60 communities have been taken over by the land-grabbing criminals.
In neighbouring Benue, the situation was not anyway different as suspected herdsmen wreaked havoc on local communities, killing scores and displacing thousands of residents.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has since appealed to the Bola Tinubu presidency to step up and deal with rising insecurity in the state as the death toll from the recent attacks by suspected herdsmen on Ukum and Logo local government areas in the state rose to 56 on Saturday.
Easter, preceded by the season of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penance, is a season of love, peace and joy. As it is, many churches in Nigeria join others across the globe to celebrate Easter.
Evil Forces Won’t Prevail — Tinubu
In his Easter message, President Bola Tinubu who is away in Paris, France, condemned the killings in Benue and Plateau, saying that the forces of evil won’t prevail over Nigeria.
He said, “I heartily felicitate Christians in Nigeria and worldwide as they commemorate Easter, the celebration of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection—the cornerstone of the Christian faith.”
“The recent tragic incidents and the loss of lives in some parts of our country deeply saddened me. I understand the pain and fear these incidents have caused. Let me assure you that my administration’s resolve to restore peace and security remains unshakable. Forces of evil will never prevail over our country.
“I have given clear directives to the Armed Forces and all relevant security agencies to end insecurity decisively and without delay. With the unwavering courage and commitment of our gallant men and women in uniform, we are turning the tide and making steady progress in reclaiming peace and stability,” he said.
READ ALSO:House of Reps member wants urgent measures to end killings in Plateau
Atiku, Obi Criticise Tinubu
Meanwhile, opposition arrowhead Atiku Abubakar flayed the Tinubu administration for being “utterly incapable, wholly incompetent, and completely devoid of any coherent ideas for tackling Nigeria’s deepening security crisis”.
In a statement on the eve of Easter Sunday, the former vice president said, “The blood of innocent Nigerians continues to be spilled with appalling regularity—most recently in the Logo and Gbagir communities of Ukum LGA in Benue State. Yet, the Tinubu presidency remains disturbingly indifferent, displaying neither urgency nor the basic decency of public empathy.”
Atiku said leadership demands presence but regretted that the president instead prefer to “gallivant across Europe — governing Nigeria in absentia as if from a holiday perch”.
The Tinubu administration has proven, time and again, to be utterly incapable, wholly incompetent, and completely devoid of any coherent ideas for tackling Nigeria’s deepening security crisis. This is not just my position — it is a growing consensus among political opposition.
Also, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, said the nation had had enough of the killings. “Enough is enough regarding the persistent killings and insecurity plaguing our nation,” he said and urged governments at all levels to work closely with royal fathers who are closest to the people at the grassroots to end the security challenges bedeviling the country.
I would like to sincerely thank the Northern Traditional Rulers for their courageous and timely emergency declaration of the security situation in the region. I cannot agree less with them that Enough is Enough regarding the persistent killings and insecurity plaguing our nation.
Respect Human Lives, Akpabio Warns Criminals
In his Easter message, Senate President Godswill Akpabio enjoined Christians and indeed all Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration of Easter to eschew political, religious and ethnic biases and unite for the progress and general well-being of the nation.
He also appealed to those perpetrating mass killings across the country to respect the sacredness of human life by showing love instead of hatred and abandoning their evil ways for peace to reign in Nigeria.
“For those who have taken to killing fellow human beings, maiming others and destroying property, I appeal that they respect the sacredness of human life. Easter is a period of love and I hope the atmosphere that permeates this season would cause them to jettison their evil ways, turn a new leaf and embrace peace,” he said in a statement.
Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, urged Christians to be their brother’s keeper.
“Though the government has the responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of citizens, the people must exemplify Christ and his teachings on obedience to authorities and being one’s brother’s keeper,” he added.
“As Christians across the country mark Easter, I extend my heartfelt wishes for peace and renewed strength. I urge all Nigerians to embrace the spirit of unity and shared responsibility, and to join hands in building a just, secure, and inclusive country for present and future generations,” he said.
IGP Steps Up Vigilance
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has directed Commissioners of Police across all State Commands and Formations, and their supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, to enhance visibility policing, extended vigilance, and intelligence gathering to ensure a safe and secure festive celebration for all citizens.
He also emphasised the critical importance of enhanced patrol and strategic deployment of personnel to places of worship, recreation centres, major highways, and other public spaces to deter criminal activities and provide swift responses to any security challenges that may arise.
In a statement by Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, the IGP called on members of the public to cooperate with the police and other security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing the breakdown of law and order during this period.
Tinubu Should Declare State Of Emergency On Plateau Killings- Cleric, Isa El-buba
For two weeks, Plateau State in North Central Nigeria has been a cynosure of killings, albeit an uncomely one. The grisly killing of over 100 residents by bloodthirsty marauders who unleashed mayhem on communities in the Bokkos and Bassa local government areas of the state has attracted national and global outrage. The death toll in the April 2025 attacks was the highest casualty figure in the spate of killings recorded in the state after daredevil criminals killed about 150 residents in Bokkos on Christmas Eve in 2023. A Plateau-based Christian cleric, Isa El-buba, believes the killers have declared war on the state and should be met with higher military power. He was a guest on Channels Television’s Inside Sources programme.
ALSO READ:Death Toll Of Benue Killings Rises To Sixty Nine
See excerpts:
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has described the killings in Plateau State as genocide. What does this say about the future of our country?
It’s a big concern because just like the governor said it’s genocide, and it’s not something that just happened today; it’s something that has been happening with several attacks in the past before the recent ones on the Plateau. Plateau is a cosmopolitan city. It houses virtually all Nigerians. And if anything goes wrong with Plateau, everything goes wrong with Nigeria. And so with what is going on, if there is no intervention, there is a blink future that this country will stand together and this country will be together. So we are actually in a very, very serious time in the history of this country.
For instance, of the recent attacks, we’ve seen that in the past. We’ve followed this in the past. Some of us have even attended a funeral in Dogo Nahawa where over 500 people were massacred and their communities were displaced. And then the attackers occupied the place. We had to put together all that was required to make sure we repossess some of the land.
Now, of the over 60 communities that were attacked, the attackers killed the people, displaced the people, destroyed the property of the people, and occupied those communities. So, this tells you a lot about what these people are up to. Now, backdating it on several years, how they would come into a community, invade the community, kill the people, displace the people, destroy their property, and take over the place and they start grazing. And it’s not that these people are not known; these people are known – they are there.
Some time ago, I raised an alarm during the past administration. These people felt it was their government, they felt they were being supported and protected. And you see them move with arms. I raised an alarm. I called on the then-president to speak up. In one of the communities I visited, over 200 people were killed. Some of the dead bodies were pulled out of wells. And we had to begin to resettle the people and then mobilise local vigilantes because these criminals are not just the local herders that we used to know, but these are terrorists who target communities. When these terrorists come in, they connive with some of the locals to get information.
So, what do we have to do better?
We have to call a spade a spade. Right now, in this country, and I’m being sincere, 80% of the terrorists displacing people from their communities disguised as herders and the language they speak is Fulani; not Kanuri, not Igbo, not Yoruba. If you want to deal with something, you have to face the reality.
So now, where are these people coming from? What is their mission? If you go to Benue, you find people killed by these herders. Again in Nasarawa, you find that people are killed by these herders. When you go to Taraba, you are finding the same people, similar method. You go to Nasarawa, similar people, similar method. You go to Zamfara, similar people, similar method.
In Benue and Plateau especially, they displaced the people, destroyed their property, and then took over. So if we are going to deal with it, these people are there already. So why don’t we mobilise? Because it’s a war. When people have come to wipe away your citizens, do you not sit down to negotiate with them? You don’t negotiate with people who have come to wipe away your citizens. But rather, you wipe away these people who have come to wipe away your people.
The best way to deal with these people is that locals should be involved to deal with these people who have come to clear their land and take over their land.
If we’re going to deal with the killings, then the community must be allowed, backed up by the government. It wouldn’t take us one week to deal with these people. They are there. Just give the locals the right, liberty, and then the backing of the military to move in there, take sentiments out of it. These are people who have declared war, they have declared war on the people. Within the past month, we have lost over 100 people. Millions of families have been displaced.
These criminals are terrorists. Let’s call them as they are. How will America deal with terrorists? How will Great Britain deal with terrorists? How will Ukraine or Russia deal with terrorists? If they will not allow terrorists to occupy just a small space in their nation, why should we as a nation allow terrorists to expand their territory?
Just a few days ago, President Bola Tinubu issued a statement to say that he has advised the governor on what to do. What’s your take on that?
The first thing is that President Bola Tinubu is the commander-in-chief. I appreciate Governor Caleb Mutfwang; he is the chief security officer of the state but I tell you the truth: state governors are limited. If they are given the powers, the governors will do what they need to do; they will engage their communities but this one that you have to wait for a command, the commanders on ground will have to wait for commands from Abuja?
President Bola Tinubu
The president is the commander-in-chief. For instance, since this thing has happened, the president has not visited. He should come down himself. I expected that the president at this point would come down here, even for a few hours, and instruct that these communities should be taken over in 24 hours. The military, they have the capability. If we start with these 60 communities, I’m telling you, this thing will stop. Then the next thing is to empower the communities. Allow them to lead the fight because the communities own their lands.
The president should come down here and declare a state of emergency on security. The same thing they did in Rivers. If the president can do what he did in Rivers, without even a fight, without any soul being killed in Rivers, and he declared a state of emergency, he should declare a state of emergency on security. If he does, we will get this matter done in 72 hours. Terrorists don’t repent. They can surrender because they have been overpowered but if you want to deal with them, clear them and wipe them out, or else you will continue to waste your resources trying to secure your people.
Death Toll In Benue Attacks Hit 56, Alia Seeks FG Help
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has appealed to the Federal Government to step up and deal with rising insecurity in the state as the death toll from the recent attacks by suspected herdsmen on Ukum and Logo local government areas in the state has risen to 56.
The governor made the call on Saturday when he visited the scenes of attacks by suspected herdsmen in Ukum and Logo local government areas to ascertain the impact of the attacks.
Addressing journalists after the visit to the affected communities in the two local government areas, Alia condemned the violent attacks on the defenseless people and called for greater action from security agencies to nip these killings in the bud.
The governor used the visit to engage with community leaders and their people whom he assured of a better deal in addressing all forms of insecurity.
He also called for calm and urged the people to resist the will to resort to self-help
Security has also been beefed up in the Sankera axis where these attacks happened to restore confidence, while emergency services and relief items have been extended to the two local government areas.
In neighbouring Plateau State, also in the North Central geopolitical zone, over 100 people have been killed in the last two weeks when bloodthirsty marauders unleashed mayhem on communities in the Bokkos and Bassa local government areas of Plateau State.
