By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
President Bola Tinubu has come under heavy criticism for referring to the recent killings in Benue State as a “reprisal attack”.
Daily Post reports that the President, while condemning the killing of over 200 villagers in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of the state, termed the ugly incident reprisal attacks.
In a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said he has “renewed his order in the wake of the latest round of reprisal attacks that led to the death of many people”.
The statement, however, did not explain why the reported unprovoked attacks were termed reprisal, triggering reactions from concerned citizens of the state.
Principal Special Assistant to the governor of Benue State on Youth and Media Mobilization, Atu Terver, in a post on his official Facebook page, said the “press statement by the President is just making me shed tears”.
He added, “How can u call genocide a reprisal attack?”
Also, an activist, Ukan Kurugh, said, “Bayo Onanuga speaking on behalf of the President on his X account called this a reprisal attack?
“Indeed nobody is coming for us but we must save ourselves”.
On his part, Aguredam Keghter Moses,
Deputy Country Director, African Youth Union Commission, Nigeria, said there is more to what the President said.
“That press statement from the President should communicate a “CLEAR MESSAGE” already,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Daily Post