CHRISTIAN YOUTH FORUM CALLS FOR SELF-DEFENSE IN BENUE, CONDEMNS KILLINGS

The Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF) has issued a strong call to action, urging Benue youths to mobilize and defend themselves against ongoing attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives across the state. The group decried what it called a “systematic extermination” of communities in the state, citing the recent Yelewata massacre where over 200 civilians were reportedly killed.
In a statement signed by Convener James Paul Adama, the group expressed outrage at the state’s deteriorating security situation. “The suffering of the Benue people is a tragic reminder of our collective failure to protect them,” the statement read. “The blood of our brothers and sisters cries out, and the silence from leadership is deafening.”
The forum called on youths to defend their ancestral lands and also urged political leaders in Benue to set aside partisanship and focus on ending the violence. “No political goal is worth sacrificing the lives of your people,” Adama stated.
The group also appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, and called for national prayers and solidarity with the people of Benue as they grapple with loss, displacement, and trauma.