Senate Orders IGP, Security Chiefs to Hunt Down Perpetrators of Benue Killings

The Senate has strongly condemned the recent wave of deadly attacks in communities across Benue South Senatorial District, directing the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and other security chiefs to immediately track down those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice.

The resolution followed the adoption of an urgent motion sponsored on Wednesday by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (Benue South), over the renewed attacks on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State that have left scores dead, several injured and many residents displaced.

The Senate’s intervention comes barely days after fresh attacks by suspected armed herdsmen rocked communities in Otukpo, escalating fears over the deteriorating security situation in Benue State.

ANGLE360 NEWS had reported that no fewer than 18 people were killed in separate attacks on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area over the weekend.

The violence began in Akpauchi-Ugboju, where two persons were killed by armed attackers. Less than 24 hours later, the assailants struck again in Otukpo-Nobi, killing 16 more people in one of the deadliest attacks recorded in the area in recent months.

The attacks sparked protests by angry youths and residents, who marched to the palace of the Och’Idoma in Otukpo, demanding urgent government intervention and improved security.

Presenting the motion before the Red Chamber, Senator Moro said the attacks had continued unabated despite repeated appeals for stronger security measures.

He informed lawmakers that another coordinated assault was launched on Ondo-Ugboju community on July 14, where two additional residents were killed while several others fled their homes for safety.

According to Moro, the sustained attacks have created widespread fear, disrupted farming activities and worsened the humanitarian situation across affected communities.

He warned that if urgent action was not taken, the violence could spiral into a full-scale security and food crisis.

According to him, “the relentless and audacious nature of these attacks suggests a deliberate attempt to decimate these communities, and if urgent security interventions are not immediately deployed, the situation will degenerate into a complete breakdown of law and order, alongside a looming food crisis as farmers are forced to abandon their farmlands out of fear for their lives.”

The lawmaker also cautioned that residents might eventually resort to self-help if government failed to halt the persistent killings.

Following extensive deliberations, senators unanimously adopted all the prayers contained in the motion.

The Senate condemned, “in the strongest terms,” the killings and destruction of property carried out by the yet-to-be-identified attackers across communities in Benue South.

Consequently, the upper legislative chamber directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the attacks, identify those responsible, arrest them and ensure they are prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The Senate also 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, temporary shelter and other essential assistance to displaced residents and victims currently receiving treatment in hospitals.

In addition, the Red Chamber mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, Defence, and National Security and Intelligence to engage with security agencies, review ongoing security operations in Benue South and ensure full implementation of the Senate’s resolutions.

The latest Senate action underscores growing national concern over the recurring violence in Benue State, where attacks by suspected armed groups have continued to claim lives, destroy communities and force thousands of residents from their homes despite repeated security interventions. As lawmakers push for stronger action, affected communities continue to call for lasting security measures to end the cycle of bloodshed and restore confidence among residents, particularly farmers preparing for the current farming season.