Over 24 hours after hundreds were brutally massacred in Benue State, President Bola Tinubu has remained silent, while wishing Nigerians a Happy Father’s Day instead.

The three spokespersons for Mr Tinubu’s government — Bayo Onanuga, Sunday Dare, and Daniel Bwala — have also remained silent on the killings.

Ignoring public outrage over the wanton killings in Benue from Friday to Saturday, Mr Tinubu took to his X handle on Sunday evening to celebrate Father’s Day.

“Today, we honour our first teachers, silent defenders, and tireless nation-builders…our fathers,” Mr Tinubu said.

“Thank you to all Nigerian fathers, biological and symbolic, home and abroad. Your everyday labours shape the character of our country and the future of our children.”

Mr Tinubu’s Father’s Day message has sparked reactions from Nigerians, many of whom questioned his silence while citizens are being killed under his watch.

An X user, @Irunnia, said: *Fathers were killed in Benue. When will you talk about that and put an end to insecurity?*

@Abazwhyllz said: “You are not aware of what is happening in Benue?? 200 people and nothing has been said?? Like 200 oo.”

@Ifedayo\_Johnson said: “Among those killed in Benue are fathers and potential fathers. Step up. Take charge.”

Condemning the attack on Benue communities, Amnesty International, in a statement on Saturday, said: “The horrifying killing of over 100 people by gunmen that invaded Yelewata; from late Friday into the early hours of Saturday 14 June 2025, shows the security measures government claims to be implementing in the state are not working.”

It added: “The Nigerian authorities’ failure to stem the violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action many more lives may be lost.”

Similarly, opposition politician Peter Obi of the Labour Party has blamed the Benue killings on Mr Tinubu’s failure.

“Over 200 lives have reportedly been extinguished in a single onslaught, homes burnt, families shattered, communities left in ruin. This is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership, a stain on our collective conscience. Every life lost is a Nigerian life, each one precious, each one irreplaceable,” Mr Obi said.

He added: “We cannot accept the normalisation of mass killing. It is intolerable. The primary duty of any government, federal, state, or local is to protect lives and property. When it repeatedly fails, we must ask: What kind of nation are we bequeathing to our children?”