Renowned Nigerian music icon, Innocent Ujah Idibia, popularly known as Tuface, has voiced deep frustration and grief over the ongoing wave of killings in Benue State, calling it a “national emergency”that demands immediate and collective action.
In a heartfelt and emotionally charged statement shared on his social media platforms, the African Queen crooner—who hails from Benue State—expressed sorrow and outrage at the recurring violence that continues to plague his home state.
“My heart is heavy, terribly sad, terribly angry! It’s become a national emergency what is going on in my state, Benue state,” Tuface lamented. “I can’t wrap my head around it. It’s just business as usual. Condemn the killings but this thing has to stop. This thing has to involve everybody in this country.”
He decried the lack of lasting solutions despite repeated condemnations from government officials and concerned citizens, insisting that verbal condemnations were no longer enough.
“It is not child’s play. It’s becoming ridiculous. Haba! I don’t even know where to express my sadness, my grief, my anger, my frustration, for this thing to keep happening over and over again,” he said, visibly shaken. “Every time it happens, we will call on the governor, call on the President… Haba!!! This thing is not funny. It’s not funny anymore. It’s gone beyond condemning. Serious action needs to start to take place.”
Tuface’s reaction comes amid fresh reports of violent attacks in several parts of Benue State, particularly in rural communities, where scores of lives have been lost in recent weeks. Gunmen, often suspected to be herdsmen militia, have invaded villages, leaving trails of bloodshed, displacing thousands, and worsening the state’s humanitarian crisis.
According to sources, entire communities have been wiped out, farmlands destroyed, and residents forced to flee their homes. While official figures remain unconfirmed, dozens of casualties have been reported in attacks across Gwer West, Guma, Ukum, and Logo local government areas.
Despite repeated assurances from security agencies and state authorities, the violence has persisted—fueling fears of ethnic and religious tensions, and drawing widespread criticism from civil society groups and international observers.
Tuface, who has long used his platform to advocate for peace and good governance, is now calling for an end to the cycle of “condemn-and-move-on” and urging every Nigerian—regardless of ethnicity, region, or religion—to speak up and pressure the government into decisive action.
“This is no longer just a Benue problem. This is a Nigerian problem,” he emphasized. “We need real solutions, real security, real justice for the people whose lives have been shattered.”
His outcry has sparked renewed conversations online, with thousands joining the call for federal authorities to treat the Benue crisis with the urgency and seriousness it demands.
