The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to urgently deploy more military personnel to Yelewata and other violence-ridden communities in Benue State, following a series of coordinated attacks that reportedly left more than 200 people dead.
Senators made the resolution during Wednesday’s plenary, where they condemned the massacre and urged security agencies to launch a comprehensive investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The Senate condemns in the strongest terms the heinous killings in Yelewata and all forms of mass violence against innocent Nigerians,” said Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session.
“This is a wake-up call. We must protect our rural communities and ensure that no Nigerian lives in fear of unprovoked attacks.”
The Senate’s resolutions were in response to a motion presented by Senator Titus Zam, representing Benue North West. He described the June 13 onslaught in Yelewata as “a tragic and genocidal massacre.”
According to Zam, the coordinated attack claimed the lives of more than 200 civilians, including women and children. “Survivors and international human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have described the killings as a calculated assault carried out with impunity,” he said.
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The senator noted that similar deadly incidents had occurred in Aondoana and Naka towns within the Gwer-West Local Government Area, where another 50 people were killed.
He expressed concern over what appears to be a pattern of targeted violence aimed at displacing communities.
Zam criticised the delayed response of security operatives, lamenting that “there was no timely intervention that could have either stopped or reduced the level of carnage.”
He also accused the Benue State Government of failing to use the significant security resources at its disposal to safeguard residents.
“It is disheartening that despite the presence of security assets, the state has not been able to effectively secure its people,” he said.
Nonetheless, the senator commended President Bola Tinubu’s swift response to the tragedy, which included a visit to the affected areas, an order to arrest suspects linked to the violence, and a directive to the National Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials for displaced families.
“We must appreciate the President’s proactive measures, especially his personal involvement and the speed at which he directed relief and security actions,” Zam added.
In addition to calling for an increased security presence, the Senate expressed support for the Federal Government’s plan to establish ranches across the country as a sustainable approach to ending the recurring conflict between herders and farmers.
Senate President Akpabio emphasized, “This crisis reflects the urgent need for long-term solutions. No Nigerian should go to bed fearing an attack. The killings in Benue should serve as a reminder that protecting human life must remain a top priority.”
The lawmakers also observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the massacre.
