The Unified Nigeria Youth Forum (UNYF) has demanded immediate justice for victims of the recent massacre in Yelewata village, Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state, where over 200 lives were brutally cut short.
The group, in a press statement on Thursday by its president, Comrade Toriah Olajide Filani, urged the federal government to provide adequate compensation and psychological support to bereaved families in accordance with Section 35 of the Constitution and international human rights standards.
He said the killings in Benue have reportedly claimed over 360 lives and displaced more than 6,500 persons in the past month alone, hence demanded a coordinated military response and political will.
Citing Chapter Two, Sections 2 and 3 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, UNYF called for the identification and prosecution of all perpetrators under relevant sections of the Criminal Code and Penal Code to reinforce the principle of zero tolerance for impunity.
The group stressed that the carnage must not be treated as a political issue, but as a national emergency requiring firm, transparent, and accountable responses.
He called for a nationwide review of the security sector with emphasis on community-based security strategies and reform of existing laws relating to justice, policing and human rights.
The Benue massacre has since become a symbol of national anguish, galvanising voices across social and professional divides in a united demand for accountability and justice. Advocacy groups insist that mere rhetoric must give way to decisive action aimed at addressing the root causes of insecurity in the Middle Belt and beyond.
They warned that failure to act decisively would not only dishonour the memory of the victims but further erode public confidence in the government’s ability to protect lives and property.