The wave of violent attacks by armed herders in Benue State has sparked fresh outrage, with House of Representatives member, Arc. Dr. Asema Achado, condemning the killings and accusing the state government of downplaying the crisis.
Hon. Achado, who represents Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, expressed deep concern over what he described as sustained and systematic assault on Benue communities, resulting in the loss of innocent lives, mass displacement, and destruction of property worth billions of naira.
He criticized Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration for allegedly failing to acknowledge the severity of the attacks, stating that the government has instead chosen to absolve the perpetrators of blame. It is sad and unfortunate that a government overwhelmingly voted into power by the people has now turned its back on them, Achado lamented.
According to the lawmaker, multiple reports and eyewitness accounts confirm that armed herders are behind the attacks, contradicting the state government stance. He stressed the need for urgent action and called on the authorities to enforce the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017 to curb the violence.
In a bold move to highlight the ongoing crisis, Achado urged grieving families to transport the corpses of their murdered loved ones to their respective local government headquarters. He believes such a dramatic action would force both state and federal governments, as well as the international community, to recognize the urgent need for intervention.
Hon. Achado commended Bishop Isaac Dugu of Katsina-Ala Catholic Diocese for speaking out against the killings and urging the government to take decisive action. He praised the cleric’s courage in calling for justice, where others have remained silent.
Reaffirming his commitment to justice and peace, the federal lawmaker vowed to continue advocating for the safety of Benue residents, stressing that violence against innocent citizens must never be normalized.
With mounting pressure from community leaders, affected families, and civil society, all eyes are now on the Benue State Government to see whether it will finally acknowledge the escalating security crisis or continue to deny the realities on the ground.
