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From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
The Senate has called for urgent and decisive action to address the recent killings in Ankpali-Edikwu, Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.
The call followed the adoption of a motion by the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, under Order 42.
Leading debate on the motion yesterday during plenary presided by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Moro drew attention to the gruesome killings of several residents on Sunday, April 12, allegedly carried out by suspected armed herdsmen. He noted that the incident reflects a troubling pattern of recurring attacks across rural communities in Benue State, resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of persons and destruction of property.
The lawmaker expressed deep concern that the persistent insecurity in Apa Local Government Area and other parts of the state has created a climate of fear, severely disrupted agricultural activities and posed a significant threat to food security.
He further warned that the frequency and brutality of the attacks point to a deteriorating security situation and raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of existing security measures.
The Senate, in its deliberation, reaffirmed that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property, stressing that failure to decisively address the killings undermines public confidence. It also acknowledged Benue State’s strategic importance as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” noting that continued violence in the region threatens Nigeria’s agricultural productivity and national food supply.
While commending the efforts of security agencies, the Senate emphasised the need to re-engineer the nation’s security architecture towards more proactive, intelligence-driven and community-based strategies.
In his remarks, Akpabio acknowledged the significance of the motion, stating, “Senator Abba Moro has, indeed, presented a motion and he has brought to the fore the problems in Benue and the insecurity that has continued to ravage many parts of Nigeria,” as he led the chamber through consideration of the prayers.
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Following deliberations, the Senate adopted the motion and resolved to urge the Federal Government to immediately deploy additional military and paramilitary personnel to Apa Local Government Area and other affected parts of Benue State to restore law and order.
The upper chamber also called on the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector General of Police and heads of other security agencies to intensify coordinated operations to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Furthermore, the Senate mandated its Committees on Defence, Army, Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the recurring attacks in Benue State and recommend sustainable solutions.
The Senate also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant bodies to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, including relief materials and medical support to the affected communities.
As part of long-term measures, lawmakers called on the Federal Government to develop and implement strategies to address farmer-herder conflicts, including ranching policies, land use reforms and community-based conflict resolution mechanisms.
The chamber also directed the immediate establishment of a Police Area Command and a military base in Apa and Agatu local government areas, alongside improved funding for security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance and rapid response operations.
In addition, the Senate, however, rejected one of the prayers of the motion, which called on the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to rise to his constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property within the state as Akpabio ruled in favour of the “Nay” votes.
The session concluded with a minute of silence observed in honour of those who lost their lives in the Ankpali-Edikwu attack.
