The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council, Lagos State, has strongly condemned the recent massacre of over 150 residents in Benue State, describing it as a national disgrace and a painful reminder of government’s repeated failure to protect its citizens.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Abdul-Raheem Abdul-Quadri, the student body expressed outrage over what it called “the senseless slaughter of innocent farmers, traders, women, and children” in Guma and surrounding communities.
“This carnage, which has left families devastated, homes reduced to rubble, and children orphaned, is not just a tragedy—it is a damning indictment of a government that claims to uphold the rule of law,” the statement read.
NANS Lagos criticised President Bola Tinubu’s delayed response to the crisis, noting that his planned visit came only five days after the attacks—a delay the group said “raises serious questions about leadership priorities and national empathy.”
The association was equally scathing in its assessment of Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, accusing him of failing to act promptly and decisively in his capacity as Chief Security Officer of the state.
“The governor’s reaction has been woefully inadequate. His silence has been too loud, and his response far below the weight of the tragedy,” Abdul-Quadri stated.
Calling for urgent intervention, NANS urged President Tinubu to visit the affected communities not just for symbolic presence or photo opportunities, but with a concrete plan for rebuilding, compensation, and long-term security.
They also demanded the immediate establishment of an independent judicial panel of inquiry, comprising representatives from civil society and student movements, to investigate the killings and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
According to the group’s Public Relations Officer, Comrade Ridwan Ajayi, “Security efforts in rural Benue must move beyond reactive measures. We need boots on the ground before the next attack, not after. That’s the only way to rebuild trust.”
NANS further called for emergency support for survivors of the attacks, urging federal and state governments to provide psychosocial support, relief materials, and funding to help rebuild displaced communities.
They insisted on the immediate arrest and prosecution of the attackers and their sponsors, warning that government silence and inaction would only embolden more violence.
“No one is above the law. If these killings go unpunished, we risk normalising barbarism and lawlessness,” the statement noted.
Describing the Benue massacre as part of a growing pattern of unchecked violence in the Middle Belt, the students said the country was at a dangerous crossroads.
“If the government can no longer guarantee safety or justice, it forfeits its moral authority to govern,” the statement said.
The association warned that it would not hesitate to mobilise nationwide protests if swift action is not taken, saying students must speak for the voiceless and stand against the bloodshed.
“Never again should Nigerian children go to bed and not wake up. Never again should optics be prioritised over real action. Never again should lives be treated as expendable,” the statement concluded.
Issuing a stern message to Nigeria’s political leadership, NANS JCC Lagos declared: “The patience of the people is wearing thin. Enough of empty promises while citizens are buried in mass graves. Action must replace rhetoric—immediately.”
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