“This Is Terrorism, Not Farmers-Herders Clash” — Dickson Slams Tinubu’s Response to Benue Massacre

Former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, has blasted President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Benue State, stating that the government’s language and response fall short of addressing what he describes as a full-blown terrorist campaign against innocent Nigerians.

President Bola Tinubu visited Makurdi on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, following the brutal killings in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The attack, suspected to be carried out by Fulani herdsmen, left over 150 people dead and renewed nationwide outrage. Despite meeting with security chiefs and stakeholders during a town hall meeting, critics say Tinubu’s remarks lacked urgency.

Senator Dickson, reacting on Arise News, argued that the situation is no longer a case of inter-communal clashes but a coordinated campaign of terror. He said the President’s approach should have been much firmer and swifter. “This is beyond reconciliation. What’s happening is criminality at a genocidal level. The President went, but far too late, and his message wasn’t strong enough,” Dickson said.

The former senator drew attention to the silence of the federal government on what he described as an “assault on the collective psyche” of Nigerians. He warned that the failure to name the atrocities for what they are — terrorism — allows impunity to thrive. “You can’t compare killing a cow to slaughtering human beings. That false equivalence is insulting to the victims,” he noted.

A heartbreaking image of a wounded child whose arm was severed during the attacks has circulated widely, further fueling criticism of the government’s muted response. Dickson cited the image as a symbol of the deepening public disillusionment. “The child looked away. It was a silent protest. That image should haunt every policymaker,” he said.

Although security operatives have been deployed to the region, Dickson argued the action comes “after the fact,” and fails to deter future attacks. “We’re not talking about prevention anymore—we’re always counting corpses. Today it’s 200, next it’s 300,” he lamented.

He accused successive governments of lacking the political will and strategy to end the carnage in Benue, Plateau, and other flashpoints. “The Nigerian state appears unprepared for this kind of asymmetric warfare. The solutions are not matching the scale of violence,” he warned.

While Tinubu’s visit may have been seen as a symbolic gesture, calls are growing louder for a national emergency response, classification of the attacks as terrorism, and the prosecution of known sponsors and perpetrators. “Until we name it and fight it for what it truly is, Nigeria will continue to bleed,” Dickson concluded.