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Nigerian music legend Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, broke down in tears as he spoke about the terrible killings in his home state, Benue. The “African Queen” singer, standing side by side with his wife, Natasha Osawaru, a lawmaker, called the situation a national emergency. “Haba, what is going on in my state? Benue has become an emergency!” he cried, struggling to find words to express his pain over the violence tearing through communities.
On Friday night, June 13, 2025, armed men, believed to be herders, attacked Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area, killing around 100 people, many of whom were internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps. The attack left families shattered, homes burned, and survivors terrified. 2Baba, who was recently made a Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach by the Benue State government, couldn’t hold back his sorrow. In the video shared on Instagram on Sunday, June 15, he begged the government and all Nigerians to act fast to stop the bloodshed. “Condemning it is not enough,” he said. “We need to come together and find solutions now!”
The video, filmed with his wife by his side, has sparked mixed reactions online. Some praised 2Baba for speaking out, but others mocked his emotional delivery, saying he struggled to speak clearly. One person, lovedoctorkollar, commented, “Haba, why is everyone dragging the videographer? Can’t you see he’s acting under instruction of Nee Idibia?” Another user, amali_perfect_, wrote, “What is haba? If he becomes a senator, will he address the public with haba?” Some, like ufuomaefe, teased, “Baba, run our pidgin English, no force yourself to speak English!” But ceodon2020 defended him, saying, “If you’re laughing at him, you’ll never have sense in your life.”
The Yelwata attack is just one of many in Benue, where armed herders and bandits have turned the state into a danger zone. Reports say over 270 people were killed between April 1 and June 1, 2025, across 10 local government areas, including Gwer West, Apa, and the Sankera axis (Katsina-Ala, Logo, and Ukum). In one terrible weekend, 58 people died, including 43 in Gwer West and Apa, and 15 in a clash between Mbakine and Ojumole communities in Gwer East over a market dispute. Over 200 villages have been destroyed, and 450,000 people are now living in IDP camps, unable to return to their farms.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has called for urgent help from the federal government, saying Benue needs support, not a state of emergency. “We need to drive out these invaders who don’t even speak our languages,” he said on Arise TV. The federal government has sent two armoured tanks and Special Forces, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has taken over security operations. Military planes are now flying over Makurdi to monitor the situation. President Bola Tinubu has ordered security chiefs to arrest the attackers and told Governor Alia to start peace talks to calm the crisis.
But not everyone agrees on what to do. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sebastine Hon, wrote to President Tinubu, begging for a state of emergency, saying Governor Alia is not doing enough. He claimed the governor called deadly attacks “skirmishes” and even danced at a celebration while people were dying. Catholic priests have also accused soldiers of standing by during attacks near checkpoints. However, the Charismatic Bishops Conference in Benue rejected the emergency call, saying Governor Alia, a priest himself, needs support and prayers, not criticism.
The violence has broken hearts across Nigeria. Pope Leo XIV called the Yelwata massacre “terrible,” mourning the loss of nearly 200 lives. Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate, said the killings are a “national tragedy” and demanded action. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) sent relief materials to help survivors, while community leaders like Fanen Mondo from Zone “A” Peoples’ Assembly urged Governor Alia to lead like a “field commander” and stop the silence of politicians.
2Baba’s emotional plea has put Benue’s pain in the spotlight. As families bury their loved ones and thousands remain displaced, the question is: will Nigeria’s leaders find a way to end this nightmare? What do you think can be done to bring peace to Benue?
