The devastating massacre in Yelwata, Benue State, where approximately 200 people were reportedly killed and many burnt in their homes, has sparked outrage across Nigeria including an emotional response from reality TV star and influencer, Natacha ‘Tacha’ Akide.
The tragic incident, which occurred between June 13 and 14, 2025, gained attention after activist Vincent Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, visited the scene and shared disturbing footage of some of the victims.
In a viral video posted to her Instagram, Tacha visibly shaken and in tears questioned the state of the nation and the value placed on Nigerian lives. Now residing in the UK, the former BBNaija housemate couldn’t hold back her pain and frustration as she delivered a powerful monologue.
“I woke up this morning asking, ‘where did I go wrong being a Nigerian? Where did we go wrong being Nigerians?’ Did we pick our country? What is the offence Nigerians have committed that is strong enough for more than 200 people to go to bed at night and not wake up the next morning.
I need people to understand that Israel and Iran are at war and not up to 200 people have been killed, but in Nigeria, you can go to bed and your tomorrow is not guaranteed.”
Tacha did not stop there. She took aim at the government’s lack of urgency, expressing disappointment that no official statement had been made until the Pope addressed the tragedy.
“On top of this, we have to beg the government to even talk about it. It had to take a pope from many miles away to address Nigerians and sympathise and give Nigerians hope before our government talked about this.
Where did we go wrong to vote this government into power? How are human lives not important to you and you have children and families? But Nigerians’ lives don’t matter to you. Where did we go wrong? This isn’t the first time, the 10th time, the 30th time this is happening but it’s still happening. Government, where did we go wrong?
What offence have we committed as Nigerians? How can we stop being Nigerians to save ourselves from this crisis? Nigeria is not at war but 200 people have been burnt down. Five people did not die in Rivers state but a state of emergency was declared in the state but 200 people have died…”
Alongside the emotional footage, Tacha posted a heartfelt caption titled “Open Letter to the Nigerian Government,” further expressing her sorrow and demanding accountability:
“Open Letter to the NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT!!!
The Nigerian people do not hate the government!! We hate the situation we’ve been forced to live in. The PAIN shows in the way we speak, in how we act, and in the constant frustration we carry.
One of the most basic duties of any government is to protect lives and property. In this, you have failed us. From the president to the governors, senators, and ministers you all have families. You have children. You know the value of life.
AND To the First Lady of Nigeria we love you. I love you. And as a mother, you understand the pain of childbirth. How do you explain children being born into a world where they die in their sleep!! burned, forgotten???
It is heartbreaking that Nigerians must beg for sympathy, beg to be addressed, beg for hope. What would it cost the Presidency to visit the grieving, to show that leadership feels??
We don’t feel the presence of our government. We are humans. You are humans. And yet, lives are reduced to ashes without national mourning. The flag should be at half-mast. But no!! only the Pope spoke before OUR OWN government did.
It is sad. It is painful. And we are tired of going in circles. We just want to feel seen. We just want to feel safe. We just want things to be better.
AND I ASK AGAIN!!?? WHere did we go WRONG AS NIGERIANS??”
Tacha’s emotional response has resonated with many Nigerians online, further amplifying calls for justice and government accountability over the Benue massacre.
See post below:
See some comments below
@Oyecap_theplug:“Tacha just spoke my mind! God bless you. We prioritise irrelevant things so much in this country… does that mean, if the pope had not spoken, we all would have acted like nothing happened? It is well. May God console the families they left behind.”
@Nkama_lovelyqueen:“Omo after watching VDM video yesterday I couldn’t sleep cos I was seeing and imagining how those pple were burnt why sleeping its traumatising.”
@Zehmee:“And this will not be the last time. Sad but true.”
@Queeny_deroyale:“This is sad. They keep wasting people for nothing. People who have done nothing to them. And the people up there do not care coz it doesn’t affect any member of their families. So the lives lost means nothing to them.”
@Queeny_deroyale:“We suff£r to feed! We suff£r to get everything in this country. No help, no assistance, nothing from the government. And Now after the hard days work, to go home and rest , someone will still come and kpai you for no reason. ”
@Lucindajazz:“Please they rigged their way in. The majority didn’t vote them. It’s just sad the way human life is disregarded in our country.”
@Girl_like_lauren:“Omo e reach to cry when you think about this country.”
@S_h_e_i_l_a:“We didn’t even vote them ! And the one who forced himself on us as the president said ‘Reconciliation’ ♀️ Reconciliation between who and who please????! Lives are being wasted on a daily yet they don’t care .”
@Mrperfectng:“I don’t Stan nonsense see my favorite using her platform to speak for us,so proud of you Tacha that’s what a celebrity should be about ❤️.
