Amid escalating violence and alleged government inaction in Benue State, legal luminary Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, has written an impassioned petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to declare a state of military emergency in the state.
In a letter dated June 2, 2025, addressed to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Prof. Hon decried what he described as a “fast-deteriorating security situation” in Benue, which, according to him, is being met with indifference by the state government and complicity by the military.
“The sovereignty of Nigeria is under very serious risk. No situation is more fitting to declare a military state of emergency in Benue State. The time for you to act is now, Sir!” Prof. Hon wrote.
While commending President Tinubu for security improvements in northern states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Niger, Hon lamented that Benue State has been left to bleed, pointing fingers directly at the state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and the military command in the region.
He accused the governor of trivializing the attacks by calling them “skirmishes,” citing several deadly incidents in recent days, including:
- The May 29 daylight massacre in Agan Community, Makurdi, which left several dead. According to Hon, the governor made no statement or visit, instead “danced on podiums celebrating two years in office.”
- The June 1 coordinated attacks on Naka (Gwer West) and Edikwu-Ankpali (Apa LGA), which led to more fatalities, again without an official response from the state government.
- Military negligence, including an incident where Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo was attacked just 500 meters from a checkpoint, with soldiers allegedly refusing to intervene.
Prof. Hon also referenced accusations by Catholic priests who recently claimed that over 15 parishes had been shut down in Benue due to violence, with direct allegations of military complicity in the killings.
“The attackers ride in large numbers on motorcycles and pass through military checkpoints without resistance,” he wrote. “How is this possible if the military is not complicit or negligent?”
The Senior Advocate attached multiple documents to support his claims, including a Facebook post criticizing Governor Alia, which, he claimed, led to personal attacks from government supporters instead of accountability.
Citing both Nigerian and international precedents, Hon drew parallels between the current situation in Benue and past national emergencies, including declarations made by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, and even President Donald Trump’s 2025 emergency proclamation on the U.S. southern border.
“President Trump’s words on cartels, criminal gangs and sovereignty describe Benue’s situation today,” Hon asserted. “This is a slow-motion invasion.”
Prof. Hon called on President Tinubu to:
- Declare a military state of emergency in Benue State under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution;
- Replace all military commanders and possibly troops currently stationed in the state;
- Deploy drones, fighter jets, and surveillance equipment, as has been done in other hotspots;
- Launch immediate military operations to secure the state’s borders and flashpoints.
He concluded with a passionate appeal:
“God bless the father of the Nigerian Nation, even as I expect, with all sense of humility yet strong responsibility, that Mr. President will act on this letter with utmost dispatch.”
As of press time, there was no official response from the Presidency or the Benue State Government.
— Hobnob News
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