Lawmaker accuses gov Alia of inaction as herdsmen kill Benue residents, destroy farms

A member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Peter Uche (APC/Guma I), has condemned the continued wave of violent attacks in his constituency, lamenting the loss of lives and destruction of property.

Speaking on Friday in Makurdi, Uche, who represents Yelewata a community that witnessed mass killings in June 2025 said the security situation has not improved.

He noted that the ongoing violence has forced thousands of residents to flee their homes, leaving survivors in severe hardship and unable to return to farming activities.

The lawmaker urged the government to take decisive and proactive steps to curb the attacks and restore normalcy to affected communities.

“The situation is not better. We are still facing serious insecurity. Just on Wednesday, innocent people were gruesomely killed on their farms by attackers at Imande Dem.

“I was away attending the burial of the mother of the majority leader, but I am making plans to visit the affected communities and sympathise with the families who lost their loved ones,” the lawmaker said.

Uche further revealed that he has repeatedly raised motions in the assembly to draw the attention of the state’s chief security officer to the plight of his constituents.

He added that he has also sensitised residents in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies.

“A disturbing fact is that these perpetrators move freely with their cattle under open grazing, despite the existence of an anti-open-grazing law.

For reasons best known to the government, that law has not been enforced.

“At my level, I cannot enforce the law. I can only call on the government to act, which I have done repeatedly through motions in the House. But these attacks continue, and the perpetrators move freely,” he added.

Despite his concerns, the lawmaker acknowledged the efforts of security agencies, commending their continued operations to tackle the crisis, which has kept many residents away from their farms.

(NAN)