Prominent human rights advocate, Femi Falana, SAN, has strongly criticised both the Federal Government and Benue State authorities for failing to prosecute suspects linked to repeated killings across the state.
Falana’s comments were released through the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a civil rights group he leads.
He noted that despite several arrests made over the years involving crimes like illegal arms possession, mass murder, and kidnapping, most of the accused individuals have not been tried or sentenced.
His remarks follow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent trip to Benue, where the president directed the Nigeria Police Force to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the state’s most recent wave of violence.
Falana responded by questioning the effectiveness of such directives, describing them as mostly symbolic. He pointed out that similar arrests in the past rarely resulted in justice for the victims.
He also criticised the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for placing blame on residents of the Yelwata community. Musa had accused locals of shielding those responsible for the killings, but Falana argued that this shifted attention away from the deeper issues of insecurity and government failure.
“On December 30, 2024, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hassan Yabanet, announced the arrest of 273 suspects involved in capital crimes, along with the recovery of 20 firearms and 51 rounds of ammunition.
“On January 17, 2024, Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed that an illegal firearms factory had been uncovered in Benue. Two suspects Friday Aduduakambe and Iorwashima Iornyume were arrested, and a cache of weapons, including nine locally made pistols and one unfinished AK-47, was seized.
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“On April 17, 2025, Governor Hyacinth Alia disclosed that three herdsmen were arrested over the killing of 11 people in the Otobi community, Otukpo Local Government Area.
“On June 19, 2025, Community Volunteer Guards apprehended three suspected kidnappers at the Otukpo motor park with ransom money collected from their victims,” Falana highlighted.
He added that between January and June 2025, dozens of suspects linked to violent crimes had been arrested. In just the last 10 days, security operatives apprehended 43 suspected killers, yet there has been little to no movement towards prosecution.
“It is undoubtedly clear that the authorities have continued to treat suspected killers in Benue State like sacred cows.
“The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Benue State, Mr Fidelis Mnyim, must take immediate steps to ensure that justice is served,” he maintained.