Obidient Movement Blasts Tinubu’s Benue Visit, Says Noodles Can’t Fix Mass Killings or Insecurity

 

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State, describing it as a symbolic gesture that fails to address the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria. Speaking during an exclusive session on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, Tanko criticized what he termed as a shallow and delayed reaction by the Federal Government to the gruesome massacre that claimed over 200 lives in the Yelwata community.

The massacre, which occurred in Yelwata, a small village along the Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja federal highway, has drawn national outrage. Residents were reportedly attacked by armed herdsmen in a brutal assault that left homes in ruins, families devastated, and survivors traumatized. Despite the enormity of the tragedy, the federal government's response, according to Tanko, has been limited to a distribution of food palliatives and instant noodles.

Tanko did not mince words as he lambasted Tinubu’s visit, accusing the administration of chronic neglect of security issues across various regions. “For us in the Obidient Movement, this is not only a belated visit but also an insult to the intelligence of the Nigerian people. Time and again, these attacks have happened in Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, and Benue. Yet there has been no urgency or real action until after lives are already lost,” he said on the radio program monitored by DAILY POST in Abeokuta.

The Obidient Movement, a socio-political group aligned with the ideals of former presidential candidate Peter Obi, has positioned itself as a vocal critic of what it views as institutional failures in governance. Tanko emphasized that no one has been held accountable for the rising tide of violence. He questioned why the government has not investigated the root causes or given the victims a chance to share their accounts.

“What exactly is being done to stop the killings? Has anyone been arrested? Has anyone taken the time to ask the victims what happened or how they survived? All we see are condolence visits, photo ops, and food palliatives. But noodles is not the solution to insecurity,” Tanko added.

For the Obidient Movement, the problem lies deeper than surface-level responses. Tanko pointed out that the crisis of insecurity has spanned multiple administrations, each failing to uproot the menace of terrorism and communal violence at its core. “This issue didn’t start yesterday. It didn’t start with Tinubu. It was there under Buhari. Before him, Jonathan also struggled with Boko Haram. And it all just kept escalating because nobody took the right steps to fix it from the grassroots,” he explained.

According to him, the Federal Government’s handling of the massacre in Benue mirrors a longstanding trend of performative governance, where reactions come only after national outrage or significant media coverage. This reactive approach, he argued, has emboldened violent groups across the country to operate with near impunity.

Tanko’s criticism was not limited to the Tinubu administration alone but served as a broader indictment of Nigeria’s security architecture and political will. “We are tired of symbolic visits, condolence speeches, and food packages. What we need is a structured and serious approach to national security,” he asserted.

He went on to call for an official declaration of a national emergency on security, urging the President to act decisively and break away from what he sees as a legacy of indifference and half-measures. “The government must understand the gravity of this moment. We are not dealing with just isolated incidents anymore. We are dealing with a widespread failure of governance. A national emergency must be declared. That is the only way we can begin to re-strategize and protect Nigerians,” Tanko concluded.

His statements echo a growing sentiment among civil society groups and affected communities who feel abandoned by the institutions meant to protect them. Many are now demanding real-time security reforms and a comprehensive national plan that includes community intelligence, swift justice mechanisms, and accountability for security lapses.

As the country mourns the Yelwata victims, the clamor for concrete action continues to grow louder. While food relief may offer temporary comfort, the Nigerian people, particularly those in conflict-prone regions, are looking for a future where such atrocities are prevented, not just pitifully managed after the fact.