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From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
The Nigerian Senate has condemned the horrific massacre of over 200 civilians in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, calling on the Federal Government to urgently deploy additional troops to restore peace and order in the affected areas.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam (Benue North-West), who led the debate on the floor of the Senate, yesterday, describing the June 13 attack as a genocidal and unprecedented assault on a peaceful rural community.
“This unprecedented tragic massacre was executed in a systematic manner never known before in the history of these attacks,” Senator Zam said, referencing survivor accounts and reports from international rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Zam expressed deep concern over what he described as a growing pattern of coordinated violence across Benue State. He highlighted similar recent attacks in Aondoana and Naka, both in Gwer-West Local Government Area where, at least, 50 people were reportedly killed.
He lamented the failure of security agencies to respond promptly, and questioned the Benue State Government’s capacity to effectively utilise available security resources.
Despite these shortcomings, the Senator commended President Bola Tinubu for his swift visit to Benue in the wake of the massacre, his directive for the release of relief materials through NEMA, and orders to security agencies which have already led to the arrest of several suspects.
Senators across party lines voiced outrage over the massacre, calling for urgent reforms, improved security coordination, and collective national action.
Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi (Bauchi Central) called the killings “pure genocide,” and lamented that repeated discussions over the years have failed to stop the bloodshed. He raised concerns over disunity between the Benue State leadership, and recounted losing a young student he had personally sponsored to the attack.
“There is no way people can kill over 200 and disappear into thin air, are they spirits?” Ningi asked.
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Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, confirmed that the Inspector General of Police had arrested over 20 suspects and stressed the need for more aggressive action.
From Ondo South, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim argued for the implementation of modern security strategies and called on the Senate to physically visit Benue as a demonstration of national solidarity.
“Life is still brutish; we must change the dimensions of security policing and deploy technology. Let us go there,” Ibrahim said.
Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar (Kwara North) echoed similar sentiments, noting that killings and kidnappings had also plagued communities in his district.
He advocated for a three-tiered solution involving federal, state, and local forces, including the training and equipping of community vigilantes.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described the Yelewata massacre as “an act of terrorism,” warning that those financing and enabling such violence would soon face justice.
“I don’t want to politicise this. We shall all account for our actions before our Creator. My heart goes out to the victims and the wounded,” he said.
Following extensive deliberations the Senate, in their resolutions, commended President Tinubu for his prompt intervention and the creation of a stakeholder committee for peace in Benue; praised the President’s support for ranching as a permanent solution to farmer-herder conflicts; condemned, in strong terms, the Yelewata massacre, and all acts of violence against innocent citizens; called on security agencies to intensify investigations and bring all perpetrators to justice.
The Senate also urged the Federal Government to deploy more troops to affected communities in Benue; reconstruct destroyed homes and infrastructure, and provide adequate compensation to the victims.
The lawmakers also observed a moment of silence in honour of the lives lost in the Yelewata tragedy.
