The Senate on Wednesday condemned the recent wave of killings and destruction of property in communities across Benue South Senatorial District, directing the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other security chiefs to track down those responsible and ensure they face justice.
The resolution followed the adoption of an urgent motion sponsored by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (Benue South), titled, “Urgent Need to Stop the Gruesome Murder of Inhabitants of Akpauchi-Ugboju, Otukpo-Nobi and Fresh Attacks on Ondo-Ugboju in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State by Suspected Bandits.”
Presenting the motion, Moro said sustained attacks on communities in the district had reached an alarming level, warning that residents could be forced to resort to self-defence if urgent action was not taken.
He recounted that attacks over the weekend claimed 18 lives, with two people killed in Akpauchi-Ugboju and 16 others murdered in Otukpo-Nobi.
According to the senator, another coordinated attack occurred on July 14 in Ondo-Ugboju, where two more people were reportedly killed, forcing residents to flee their homes and worsening the humanitarian situation in the area.
Moro said the repeated attacks suggested a deliberate attempt to overrun communities in the district.
“The relentless and audacious nature of these attacks suggests a deliberate attempt to decimate these communities. If urgent security interventions are not immediately deployed, the situation may degenerate into a complete breakdown of law and order, while farmers are abandoning their farmlands, creating the risk of a food crisis,” he said.
Following deliberations, the Senate unanimously condemned the killings and destruction of communities by the attackers.
Lawmakers directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to launch a comprehensive investigation, apprehend those behind the attacks and prosecute them in accordance with the law.
The upper chamber also mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, Defence, and National Security and Intelligence to engage security chiefs on measures being taken to restore peace in Benue South and ensure compliance with the Senate’s resolutions.
In addition, the Senate called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to immediately provide relief materials, including food, medical supplies and temporary shelter, to displaced persons and victims receiving treatment.
The Senate stressed the need for urgent and coordinated security action to halt the recurring violence and restore confidence among residents of the affected communities.