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The Benue State House of Assembly has attributed the persistent killings in the state to the lack of firm, decisive action from security agencies and has urged residents to remain vigilant and defend themselves lawfully. The Assembly made this known during its plenary on Tuesday, where lawmakers condemned the recent massacre in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, and called for urgent action to safeguard communities.
The call came through a motion of urgent public importance moved by Terwase Uche, the member representing Guma 1 State Constituency. Uche formally notified the House of the devastating attack in Yelwata, which left several dead and properties destroyed by suspected armed herders. He urged his colleagues to stand with the affected communities and push for stronger security measures in the state.
In response, the Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging Governor Hyacinth Alia to declare three days of mourning in honour of the victims. The period of mourning, they agreed, would begin on Wednesday, June 18, and run through Friday, June 20, 2025.
Additionally, the lawmakers called on the governor to ensure the full and immediate enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017, which was designed to curb the movement of cattle by herders and reduce violent clashes in the state. The law has been largely under-enforced in recent times, with attacks on rural communities escalating.
During the session, Speaker Aondona Dajoh also issued a directive for the immediate release of all youths who were arrested during recent protests across the state. The demonstrators had taken to the streets to express their frustration over the continued insecurity, and their detention had attracted widespread criticism from the public and civil society groups.
“Peaceful protest is a constitutional right. No citizen should be punished for exercising their right to speak out in a democracy,” Dajoh stated. He urged security agencies to uphold the rights of demonstrators and manage future engagements with professionalism and restraint. The Assembly further pledged to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrests and liaise with relevant authorities to ensure such incidents do not repeat.
Meanwhile, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) operating in Benue have added their voices to the growing condemnation of the Yelwata killings. Speaking at a media briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Makurdi, Lazarus Mom, on behalf of the Benue NGOs Network (BENGONET) and the Civil Society Organisations Bloc (CSO-B), lamented the escalating violence and what he described as the government’s inadequate response.
According to Mom, over 712 lives have been lost in conflict-related attacks in Benue since January 2025, while more than 180,000 people have been displaced, now living in dire humanitarian conditions. He called on the government to urgently address the growing insecurity and ensure justice for affected families.
“We cannot continue to bury our people while those responsible for these atrocities go unpunished,” Mom said. “Government must act decisively to protect citizens and uphold the rule of law.”
Adding his voice, Senior Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Centre (HICC) in Lagos, Bolaji Idowu, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. In a statement, Pastor Idowu urged government authorities to take immediate and bold action to apprehend those behind the killings and restore peace to the region.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives in Benue. As a nation, we cannot remain silent in the face of such relentless violence. Every life matters, and it’s heartbreaking to see families torn apart and communities destroyed,” he said.
Pastor Idowu noted that the killings in Benue reflect a broader national crisis that demands serious intervention at all levels of government and from every segment of society. He stressed that the cycle of violence must be broken to preserve the future of affected communities.
The House of Assembly’s decision to demand the enforcement of the anti-open grazing law comes amid calls from traditional rulers, security officials, and rights groups for community-based security solutions. The idea of lawful self-defence and community policing has been gaining support following the failure of conventional security arrangements to stem the tide of violence in rural parts of the state.
The Benue State government has faced increasing pressure to strengthen security around vulnerable communities and to implement the grazing law more effectively, a policy introduced during the administration of former Governor Samuel Ortom to address violent clashes between farmers and herders.
As the state observes three days of mourning, expectations are high for swift and concrete actions from both state and federal authorities to halt further attacks and bring lasting peace to Benue communities.