Benue Massacre: Gov, Assembly Members At Loggerheads
The Benue State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, asserted that Governor Hyacinth Alia, his deputy, Sam Ode, and all the 32 lawmakers had let the people down.
During Tuesday’s sitting, members of the Benue State House of Assembly openly admitted that the governor, his deputy, Sam Ode, and even the lawmakers themselves had not lived up to the expectations of the people, especially in light of the killings in the state.
In an emotional debate sparked by a motion of urgent public importance raised by Peter Uche, who represents Guma State Constituency, many lawmakers expressed deep concern and agreed that all elected officials in the state have failed to protect their communities from the relentless attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen.
Speaking on the matter, the lawmaker who represents Kwande West State Constituency, Thomas Dugeri, passionately reminded them that the core purpose of any government is to safeguard the lives and property of its people.
He said, “The Constitution of Nigeria provides that the essence of government is the protection of lives and property. We are 34 that are elected people in the state, the governor, deputy governor and 32 of us as lawmakers; we have all failed our people.
“The governor has failed, the deputy governor has failed, and the 32 of us have failed. The time has come when we have to wake up and live up to our responsibilities.’’
Other lawmakers who spoke in the same vein include Terna Shimawua, the majority leader, Saater Tiseer, and others, who fumed at the killings in Yelwata, describing it as genocide.
They decried the non-funding of the third tier of government as one of the reasons for the escalating insecurity.
The minority leader, Michael Audu, decried the situation where funds meant for local government are not given to them.
He said, “The funds of local government should go back to them, let them start using it, the house of assembly will ensure judicious use of the funds, and if they fail to ensure adequate security, we will hold them.”
Supporting this, Peter Puusu said the problem is a result of the local government not being autonomous.
“There is no local government system in Benue again,” he stated.
They unanimously urged the full enforcement of the state’s anti-open grazing law.
Following the debate, the House reached several resolutions, including a call on the state government to observe three days of mourning—from Wednesday, June 18 to Friday, June 20, 2025—in honour of the lives lost in the Yelewata attack and other parts of Benue State.
They resolved as follows: “That the House condemns in very strong terms the coordinated invasion, massacre, genocide and acts of terrorism against the people of Yelewata and elsewhere in Benue State by the marauding Fulani herdsmen militia only comparable to the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 and the holocaust against the European Jews during World War II.
“That the House observes a one-minute silence in honour of the innocent lives killed in Yelewata and anywhere in Benue State.
“That the State Emergency Management Agency should, as a matter of urgency, provide shelter and relief materials to the victims of the attack in Yelewata to ease their pain.
“That the House request the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to, in line with section 218 (1) — (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, expedite action in ending the killings in Benue State. This will give the Benue People a sense of belonging and enable them to go back to their farms without fear.
“That the House request the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia, to use the resources at his disposal to mobilise the Benue State Civil Protection Guards to complement the conventional security agencies to end the killings of innocent citizens in the state.
“That the Benue State Government and all security formations in the State should ensure full implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches (Establishment) Law, 2017, as amended.
“That the Governor of Benue State should lead a high-powered delegation of prominent Benue indigenes to the President to explain the real reasons behind the ongoing killings in the state, to change the false narratives of the herders/farmers crisis being peddled in sections of the media with the view to finding a lasting.”
In response to the lawmakers, the Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mathew Abo, said the governor did not neglected his duty to protect the people.
He explained that the governor has made consistent efforts to bring security chiefs and other key stakeholders to the state.
The commissioner said, “Well, the governor has not failed in providing security to the people in the state, the coming of security chiefs and the visit of the president are all part of government efforts.
“He has also tried his best to provide logistics to security operatives in the state, so he has not failed, and you don’t expect him to carry guns and go to the bush.’’
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
