FIC Report (Benue State) – The Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the rising spate of killings across the state. This appeal came during plenary, following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Peter Ucher, representing Guma State Constituency, over the recent attack on farmers in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, allegedly carried out by suspected killer herdsmen.
According to Hon. Ucher, the gruesome attack occurred on Friday, June 13, 2025, while the victims were asleep in their homes. The Majority Leader of the House, Comrade Saater Tiseer, condemned the act and called on security agencies in the state to rise to the defense of Benue citizens. He also appealed to the state governor to release funds to local government council chairmen to enable them serve as the first line of defense in such situations before external help is sought.
Members of the 10th Assembly expressed outrage over the repeated invasions of local communities by suspected herdsmen, asserting that nearly all LGAs in the state have experienced unprovoked attacks.
In his contribution, Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu urged the state government to immediately implement the Anti-Open Grazing Prohibition Law enacted in 2017 by the previous administration as a proactive measure to curb the violence.
The House unanimously passed a resolution calling on Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia to deploy available state resources to mobilize the Benue State Civil Protection Guard to support conventional security forces in ending the killings.
Lawmakers also proposed that Friday, June 20, be declared a state-wide day of mourning in honor of the victims, and called on the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to urgently provide relief materials to affected families in Yelewata.
In his ruling, Speaker of the House, Hon. Aondo Dajoh, commended Benue youths for their peaceful solidarity protest held on Sunday, June 15, 2025, and urged the Commissioner of Police to release all youths who were arrested during the demonstration.
Signed
VERONICA AZEMBA
For Head of Center
FIC MAKURDI
