FIC Report (Benue State) – The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Alfred Emberga, on Monday, March 9, 2026, called on the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and other relevant security agencies to urgently rescue children of Benue origin allegedly trafficked out of the state.
This followed a motion raised during plenary by Hon. Peter Terwase Uche, representing Guma State Constituency, who drew the attention of the House to the alleged trafficking of over 400 Benue children to Divine Hope Orphanage for the Less Privileged located in Kagini, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Hon. Uche noted that for more than fifteen years, several local government areas in Benue State have been under persistent attacks by armed herdsmen, resulting in widespread destruction of homes, farmlands, and livelihoods.
He further observed that the attacks have led to massive displacement of communities, leaving many children, youths and elderly persons vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and trafficking.
The lawmaker informed the House that in February 2026, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Abuja reported that over 400 children from Benue State had been illegally moved to the orphanage, with their names allegedly changed without the consent of their parents or guardians.
He also revealed that the Child Development Department of the Women Affairs Secretariat in Bwari Area Council announced that the whereabouts of the orphanage proprietor, Ebele Chibuzor, and the children were unknown, as they had reportedly been relocated to an undisclosed location.
Hon. Uche expressed concern that efforts made by NAPTIP at both state and national levels had yet to yield results, adding that three of the trafficked children were reported dead.
Following deliberations, the House unanimously condemned the alleged trafficking and relocation of the children to unknown destinations and called on the Benue State Government to urgently intervene to rescue the children and reunite them with their families.
In a related development, the House also condemned the abduction and murder of the Kindred Head of Mbajiir, Tongov, in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Zaki Sughter Agamber.
The motion, moved by Hon. Peter Bemdoo Ipusu, representing Katsina-Ala West State Constituency, noted that although incidents of abduction and killings had slightly reduced in the area, insecurity remained a serious concern.
Hon. Ipusu informed the House that the traditional ruler was abducted by unknown gunmen on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Kam Village in Tongov. Despite efforts by the Tor Sankera, Ter Katsina-Ala, and the chairmen of Katsina-Ala and Ukum Local Government Councils to secure his release, his lifeless body was discovered in a nearby bush the following day.
The lawmaker lamented that the killing of the traditional leader represented a serious attack on the revered traditional institution and an escalation of insecurity in the area, noting that residents of the community had begun fleeing their homes out of fear.
The House strongly condemned the abduction and killing of the traditional ruler and called on the Benue State Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to intensify collaboration to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The Assembly also urged Operation Zenda to establish a security checkpoint and conduct regular patrols around Kam community, located along the boundary between Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala local government areas, to prevent further attacks and restore confidence among residents.
VERONICA AZEMBA
For Head of Center FIC Makurdi
