The Unified Nigeria Youth Forum (UNYF) has asked President Bola Tinubu to consider voluntary resignation, accusing him of failing to uphold his constitutional duty to protect citizens following the recent killing of over 100 people in Benue state.
In a statement on Thursday, Toriah Olajide Filani, president of the forum, said the continuous massacre of Nigerians under the current administration amounts to a breach of Chapter Two, Sections 2 and 3 of the 1999 Constitution, which affirm that sovereignty belongs to the people and that their security and welfare shall be the primary purpose of government.
Filani also called for the immediate resignation or dismissal of all service chiefs, the National Security Adviser, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, citing what he described as a “gross failure of leadership and dereliction of constitutional duty.”
“In any democratic system, public officials under whose watch mass killings occur must take responsibility and vacate office,” he said.
He described President Tinubu’s recent condolence visit to Benue as “hollow and politically motivated,” adding that it failed to address the scale of the humanitarian crisis or demonstrate a tangible commitment to security and relief efforts.
According to Filani, over 360 lives have been lost and more than 6,500 people displaced in Benue within the last month.
He said the state requires more than presidential optics.
His words: “Benue does not need presidential optics but decisive leadership and swift security interventions.
“Reconciliation without justice would embolden the killers, deepen the wounds of affected communities, and erode public trust in governance.”
Filani said the killings must not be treated as a political issue but as a national emergency that demands transparent and accountable action.
He called for the identification and prosecution of perpetrators under the Criminal and Penal Codes, to reinforce zero tolerance for impunity.
He also urged the federal government to provide compensation and psychological support to bereaved families, in line with Section 35 of the Constitution and international human rights standards.
Filani called for a national review of the country’s security sector, with a focus on community-based security models and reforms in justice, policing, and human rights laws.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
