Social media reached its peak following President Bola Tinubu’s condolence visit to Benue State. There was significant scrutiny before, during, and after the visit.
Governor Hyacinth Alia’s actions and remarks have drawn harsh criticism. Outrage erupted over videos showing pupils made to stand in the rain, sing the national anthem, and welcome the presidential convoy from the airport.
⚔️ 1. Context of the Visit: Escalating Violence in Benue
Massacres Triggering the Visit: President Tinubu’s visit on 18 June 2025 followed a brutal attack in Yelewata (Guma LGA) on 13–14 June, during which suspected Fulani militants killed 100–200 Christians. Among the victims were internally displaced persons (IDPs) from previous violence. This incident
• marked a grim toll of over 500 deaths in Benue in 2025 alone.
• Root Causes: The violence arises from farmer-herder conflicts exacerbated by climate change, land scarcity, and ethnic-religious tensions (Fulani herders vs. Christian farmers). Security analyst Kabir Adamu notes 1,043 deaths in Benue between May 2023 and May 2025, driven by environmental stress and ineffective governance.
🕊️ 2. The Visit: Condolence, Controversy, and Stakeholder Engagement
• Itinerary:
Yelewata Epicenter: Tinubu met bereaved families, IDPs, and hospitalised victims.
Town Hall Meeting: Held at Benue State Government House with governors, security chiefs (e.g., NSA Nuhu Ribadu), traditional rulers, and federal lawmakers. Tinubu condemned the attacks as “barbaric” and pledged justice.
• Political Spectacle Allegations: Governor Hyacinth Alia faced backlash for mobilising “colourful shoulder-to-shoulder processions” via a state circular. Critics called it a “political rally” during mourning, diverting focus from empathy. Public affairs analyst Festus Ogun lamented: “Support Group to give a rousing welcome to a President coming to mourn? Nigeria is not a real place”.
📢 3. Immediate Reactions and Criticisms
• Local Scepticism: Community leader Tyohemba Adakole voiced exhaustion: “We are tired of burying our people… what we truly need is protection”
• Institutional Responses:
UN: Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killings and urged the apprehension of the perpetrators.
Security Agencies: The Inspector-General of Police deployed tactical teams, while the Chief of Defence Staff vowed to “dislodge” attackers.
Security Experts: Kabir Adamu dismissed the visit as a “political gesture,” stressing the need for a six-pillar security roadmap (threat detection, response, accountability).
⚖️ 4. Aftermath: Security and Policy Measures
• Enhanced Operations:
Military: Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) intensified kinetic/non-kinetic actions.
Police: Additional tactical units were deployed; DIG Yakubu Kwazhi oversees Benue operations.
• Humanitarian Aid: NEMA distributed food and mattresses to displaced families.
• Accountability Demands: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) urged investigations and victim compensation, warning of looming food insecurity (Benue is Nigeria’s “food basket”)..
🔍 5. Broader Implications and Unresolved Challenges
• Governance Failures:
Reactive vs. Proactive Measures: No National Security Council convened post-massacre, highlighting ad hoc crisis management.
Political Divisions: Rifts between Governor Alia, SGF George Akume, and ex-Governor Samuel Ortom undermine unified action. Akume labelled killings “economically motivated,” denying religious drivers.
• Structural Issues:
Climate Pressures: Desertification pushes herders south, straining resources.
Security Sector Dysfunction: Despite a ₦6 trillion security budget (2023–2025), fatalities remain high (17,000 under Tinubu vs. 18,000 under Buhari).
Table: Stakeholder Perspectives on Solutions
💎 6. Conclusion: Between Symbolism and Sustained Action
Tinubu’s Benue visit underscored federal attention to a neglected crisis but risked appearing performative amid allegations of politicisation. While immediate security deployments address symptoms, long-term resolution requires:
Accountability: Prosecuting perpetrators and reforming security governance
Resource Equity: Climate-resilient livelihoods for herders and farmers.
Political Cohesion: Ending intra-party conflicts in Benue to unify crisis response.
As Father Moses Iorapuu poignantly noted: “The stark contrast between [Tinubu’s] words and reality is jarring” 4. The visit’s legacy hinges on translating pledges into protection.
Colourful Mourning? Benue State Government declares public holiday, asks support groups to turn out in their colours.
Social Media issues 15-18 June
Six core issues dominated the agenda, reflecting public anger over security failures, digital sovereignty concerns, and government accountability:
⚔️ 1. Benue Massacres & Government Inaction
• #StateOfEmergencyInBenue trended as users contrasted the swift declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State (with zero deaths) versus federal inaction in Benue despite 200+ Christian deaths in the Yelewata attack.
• Presidential Condemnation: Tinubu’s delayed response (48 hours post-attack) was called “gross incompetence,” while his June 18 condolence visit was criticised as a “political spectacle” due to Governor Alia’s orchestrated rallies.
• International Shame: Celebrity outrage peaked when reality star Tacha noted in a viral video that Pope Leo acknowledged the tragedy before
Nigeria’s government did.
Table: Key Social Media Campaigns on Benue Violence
🤖 2. Meta’s Exit Threat & Digital Sovereignty
• Calls for Indigenous Platforms: Users demanded homegrown alternatives after Meta threatened to shut down Facebook/Instagram services over a £220 million fine. Advocates like Moses Atuegwu argued: “We cannot continue to be controlled by foreign platforms”.
• Data Control & Economic Patriotism: Pearl Adekunle cited China/Russia as models, stressing local platforms would “promote indigenous technology and data protection”.
🛑 3. Social Media Regulation Crackdown
• NBC’s “Monster” Narrative: The National Broadcasting Commission pushed a bill to regulate social media, with Director-General Balarabe Ilelah calling platforms a “monster” requiring stricter laws.
• Historical Precedents: Users referenced the 2021 Twitter ban and failed 2019 “Social Media Bill” (#SayNoToSocialMediaBill), warning new regulations would criminalise dissent.
🗣️ 4. Press Freedom & Journalist Arrests
• #FreeIsaacBristol: Social commentator Isaac Bristol’s abduction and detention under the Cybercrimes Act sparked protests. The Act was amended in February 2025 but continues to be used to charge critics like Chioma Okoli (for a product review).
• Media Silencing Tactics: Journalist Segun Olatunji’s abduction by “armed men” in March 2025 resurfaced in discourse as emblematic of escalating repression.
💸 5. Economic Crisis & #EndBadGovernance Fallout
• Protestor Prosecutions: Treason charges against 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters (including 30 minors) fueled accusations of authoritarianism, though charges were later dropped.
📊 6. Platform Dynamics & Media Trust
• X as News Leader: X usage for news surged to 49% (+9 points since 2024), overtaking WhatsApp (53%, -5 points). Users relied on influencers for real-time updates on Benue, bypassing traditional media.
• Eroding Local Journalism: U.S. funding cuts crippled investigative outlets, with the Cable News Foundation’s climate fellowship axed – weakening accountability reporting.
Table: Stakeholder Positions on Social Media Regulation
🌐 Broader Implications
• Security-Digital Nexus: Benue violence amplified demands for physical protection and digital rights, linking farmer-herder conflicts to governance failures.
• Generational Divide: Youth (67% of Nigeria’s population) dominated campaigns like #SecureBenueNow, while older users favoured platform migration to local alternatives.
• Global Parallels: References to the Arab Spring underscored fears that regulation bills could suppress dissent, which is critical for democratic accountability 6.
The June 15-18 agenda fused tragedy with tech policy, revealing a public insisting that Tinubu’s government choose between performative visits and systemic reform, on both security and digital fronts. As one user starkly summarised: “Enough is now enough”.
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