Legendary Nigerian musician and Benue-born humanitarian, Innocent “2Baba” Idibia, has issued an emotional call for urgent and unified action to end the relentless killings in Benue State, describing the ongoing crisis as nothing short of a national emergency.
The Afro-pop icon, who also serves as Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach to the Benue State Government, made the heartfelt plea in a video broadcast released Monday, June 17, 2025. His voice heavy with emotion, 2Baba lamented the repeated loss of innocent lives and the apparent lack of concrete solutions despite years of public outcry.
“My heart is heavy. I am terribly sad and angry,” he began. “What is happening in Benue has become a national emergency. I can’t wrap my head around it anymore. This has to stop.” His words echoed the frustration of countless residents across Guma, Makurdi, and Gwer West LGAs, where recent attacks by suspected armed herdsmen have left dozens dead and thousands displaced.
2Baba called on all political, traditional, and community leaders in Benue to rise above party lines and personal interests to confront the crisis head-on. “This is no longer something we can just condemn in words. Serious action needs to be taken,” he stated. “Every stakeholder in Benue must join hands. I believe there is a solution.”
This isn’t the first time the global music icon has spoken out about violence in his home state. Over the years, 2Baba has used his platform to advocate for peace, unity, and grassroots development through the 2Baba Foundation. However, the artist admitted in his latest broadcast that the scale of the tragedy is now too great for silence or mere symbolic gestures.
Benue State has suffered a string of deadly attacks in recent weeks, including reports of mass displacements, reprisals, and cattle-linked violence along border communities. Many have described the situation as a slow-motion humanitarian disaster, with limited federal intervention and growing insecurity.
As reactions to 2Baba’s message flood social media, public calls are intensifying for both the federal and state governments to initiate joint security operations, strengthen border patrols, and activate conflict-resolution frameworks across affected communities.
