Benue Bloodbath: JDPC Director Warns “Wrong Diagnosis, Wrong Treatment” in Escalating Crisis, Demands Genocide Recognition
-By Ruben Mario Brodrick
Benin City, Edo State – The escalating violence in Benue State is not merely a “clash” but a systematic campaign bearing the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing and potential genocide, warned Rev. Fr. Benedict Onwugbenu, Director of the Justice Development and Peace Centre (JDPC), Benin City.
Speaking recently in Benin City, Fr. Onwugbenu decried the persistent mischaracterization of the crisis, stating unequivocally that “wrong diagnosis will lead to wrong treatment” of the unfolding tragedy.
Reacting to the latest wave of brutal attacks by unidentified herdsmen on Benue communities, Fr. Onwugbenu painted a grim picture, asserting that “Nigeria is bleeding, and Benue is one of the deepest wounds.” He emphasized that the sustained attacks on farming communities, leading to mass displacement and gruesome killings, far transcend the simplistic narrative of “herder-farmer conflict.” Such linguistic framing, he argued, is not only dishonest but actively contributes to the continuation of the violence.
“What is unfolding in Benue is systemic, targeted, and calculated,” Fr. Onwugbenu stated with grave concern. “It bears all the marks of ethnic cleansing, if not outright genocide.” He lamented the apparent “conspiracy of silence or willful denial” among the political elite at both federal and state levels, whose refusal to accurately name the violence, he believes, signals a dangerous indifference to human life.
“When leaders treat genocide as a communal misunderstanding, they enable its continuation,” he stressed, adding that “when state actors fail to call terror by its name, they signal complicity or cowardice.”
Fr. Onwugbenu passionately declared that the crisis in Benue is not an isolated regional issue but a “Nigerian emergency.” He warned that if left unaddressed, the violence currently ravaging Guma and Logo could easily spread to other parts of the country like Nsukka, Ondo, or Jos. He challenged Nigeria’s security architecture – including the Armed Forces, DSS, Police, and Civil Defence – to move beyond excuses and evasions. “Neutrality in the face of evil is betrayal,” he asserted, questioning the absence of intelligence response, emergency protections for vulnerable communities, and the continued freedom of attackers while victims are left to bury their loved ones in mass graves.
The JDPC Director made an urgent call for Nigeria to prioritize justice. He demanded immediate and unbiased investigations into the atrocities, along with the swift arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, regardless of their tribal or religious affiliations.
Crucially, he called for genuine political will that prioritizes human lives over narrow political alliances.
Fr. Onwugbenu concluded with a stark warning: “The truth is clear: until Nigeria confronts the genocide in Benue with courage and clarity, the entire nation remains at risk. And history will not forget those who looked away.” His impassioned plea underscores the urgent need for a shift in national perception and a robust, coordinated response to what he identifies as a grave and systemic threat to human life and national stability.
