By Divine Sam
While families mourn and victims fight for survival following fresh attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen, a coalition of youths and women in Benue State staged a political rally in support of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia on Thursday.
The demonstrators, operating under the umbrella of various pro-Tinubu and Alia support groups, took to the streets of Makurdi—the state capital—chanting slogans and urging the re-election of the two leaders for a second term in office. The procession culminated at the roundabout leading to the Benue State Government House, where participants hoped to be addressed by the governor.
The rally occurred mere hours after a deadly assault on Mtsewnem and Akondutyough villages in Makurdi’s North Bank area, which left many dead and dozens injured. The violent attack, attributed to armed herdsmen, has deepened the insecurity crisis plaguing the state.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Benue State University Teaching Hospital issued an emergency call for blood donations, highlighting the critical condition of several hospitalized victims.
Public reaction to the rally has been mixed, with many Nigerians expressing outrage on social media and in local forums. Critics condemned the political gathering as insensitive and tone-deaf, arguing that it reflected a disregard for the ongoing suffering and insecurity faced by communities in Benue.
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