“State Failure Is Staring Us In The Face” — Senate Declares Benue Massacre An Act Of Terrorism, Demands Federal Action

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously condemned the recent massacre of over 200 civilians in Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, and the massacre of 12 people in Mangu local government of Plateau State.

The red chamber officially declared the calamities as acts of terrorism.

It also lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift and personal response to the tragedy.

The red chamber called on Federal Government to deploy more military personnel to Benue State, particularly to Yelewata and other known flashpoints, to prevent further attacks and restore security.

It also demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into the massacre, with the aim of identifying and prosecuting all perpetrators.

The Senate also urged the Federal Government to provide compensation to the victims’ families and begin the reconstruction of properties destroyed during the attack.

The red chamber agreed to send a delegation to Yelewata as a show of solidarity and to conduct legislative oversight on the humanitarian and security response on the ground.

The Senate called for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s national security strategy, including the adoption of community-based policing models better suited to protecting vulnerable populations.

These resolutions by the Senate followed its consideration and adoption of a motion on the incidents sponsored by Senator Titus Zam during plenary.

The Senate described the attacks, which occurred on June 18 and June 21 as part of a broader, systematic campaign of violence in some parts of the country and demanded urgent and comprehensive federal intervention to stop the ongoing bloodshed in the country.

Referencing eyewitness accounts, Zam in his lead debate, said the assailants, armed with heavy weapons, launched a coordinated nighttime raid on Yelewata, resulting in extensive destruction, death of more than 200 civilians, many of them, women and children, and razed several communities.

He described the attack as deliberate and genocidal, emphasizing that these were not isolated incidents or spontaneous clashes but rather planned atrocities targeting vulnerable rural populations.

His sentiments were echoed by many of his colleagues, who took turns to express their anger, grief, and concern over the growing pattern of violence in Benue and other parts of Nigeria.

In his contribution, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP – Bauchi Central) stated that the violence in Benue reflected a broader breakdown of state capacity.

He urged the Senate to treat the situation as a national emergency rather than isolated communal unrest.

He also called for a legislative oversight mission to ascertain the extent of the damage and ensure proper government response.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and other ranking senators called for a nationwide review of Nigeria’s security infrastructure.

Senator Sadiq Umar (APC – Kwara North) highlighted similar attacks occurring in Patigi, Kwara State, underscoring that the violence in Benue is part of a growing national pattern.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC – Ondo South) canvassed for modernizing intelligence gathering and security operations, suggesting technology-driven methods to enhance the effectiveness of security responses in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio concluded the session by saying, “What we are witnessing is state failure and outside this chamber, there is a final judgment before God.”