The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Benue Hike Tourism and Conservation Foundation, Mr. Tersoo Akula, has raised a distress call over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Benue State, revealing that no fewer than 10,600 lives have been lost to persistent attacks between January 2023 and February 2025.
Akula, a seasoned humanitarian worker, made the revelation during a candlelight vigil held in Makurdi to honor the victims of the violent incursions that have ravaged the state’s rural communities.
According to him, the assailants launched over 575 coordinated attacks across more than 200 rural communities, with women and children making up the majority of the casualties.
"Tragically, 18 out of the 23 local government areas in the state have come under attack, leading to the displacement of thousands, with hundreds still unaccounted for. Over 105,476 homes have been destroyed and farm produce worth more than ₦91 billion lost,” Akula said.
He further disclosed that more than 2,000 schools had been razed, stripping countless children of access to education, while police stations and local markets were also targeted, undermining security and economic stability across the state.
“The impact is devastating — over 2 million people have been displaced, many now taking refuge in IDP camps or relying on the goodwill of host communities,” he added.
Akula condemned what he described as the “deafening silence” of the Tiv elite in the face of the deepening crisis, warning that their inaction could be misconstrued as apathy or complicity.
“When leaders and voices of influence stay silent in times like these, they fail those who look up to them. The common Tiv man is left defenceless and abandoned,” he lamented.
He called for the immediate activation of emergency response mechanisms, including the deployment of mobile clinics, food distribution programs, and trauma counseling services in IDP camps. Akula also urged the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to release a comprehensive relief action plan and collaborate with NGOs and international partners for effective intervention.
Furthermore, he criticized the politicization of Tiv Development Associations, accusing them of deviating from their original purpose and becoming dormant in the face of the people’s suffering.
“The Tiv have made immense sacrifices for Nigeria’s unity, yet they are being exterminated without consequences. It’s time to speak up, mobilize, and act,” he concluded.
