We Can’t Stay Silent Anymore — 2Baba Speaks Out Over Benue K!llings

Nigerian music icon, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has called for urgent collective action to end the recurring attacks that have continued to claim lives and devastate communities across Benue State.

According to Ireporter Online, the award-winning singer made the appeal during a visit to Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area on Wednesday, where he sympathised with residents affected by recent deadly attacks.

The visit comes weeks after gunmen invaded the community on July 12, leaving several people dead and many others injured. While the Nigeria Police Force confirmed eight fatalities, Amnesty International reported that at least 10 people were killed, with other accounts placing the combined death toll from attacks on Otukpo-Nobi and neighbouring Akpachi at 18.

During his interaction with members of the community, 2Baba expressed deep concern over the persistent bloodshed, describing the situation as heartbreaking and stressing that it could no longer be ignored.

The Benue-born entertainer urged residents, traditional rulers, government authorities, security agencies and other stakeholders to unite in finding lasting solutions to the violence, insisting that the crisis cannot be resolved by any single individual or institution.

Sharing his thoughts on social media, the singer described Benue as home and emphasised the need for solidarity with affected communities, noting that hope must remain alive despite the challenges.

He maintained that while resolving the insecurity may take time, coordinated efforts and long-term planning would be crucial to restoring peace across the state.

Benue has continued to experience repeated attacks over the years, resulting in loss of lives, displacement of residents and destruction of livelihoods. Although many incidents have been linked to disputes involving farming and grazing activities, security experts have warned that organised criminal groups now play a significant role in the escalating violence.

The attacks have also affected agricultural production in the state, with many farmers unable to access their farmlands due to insecurity, raising fresh concerns over food security nationwide.

The latest wave of violence included another deadly attack on Efeyi community in Otukpo Local Government Area on July 28, where reports indicated that at least 14 people lost their lives.

The recurring attacks have renewed calls for stronger security measures, improved intelligence gathering, the establishment of permanent security formations in vulnerable communities and thorough investigations to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.