Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called out the federal government for allegedly protecting individuals behind the persistent killings in Benue State.
Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), accused authorities of fostering a culture of impunity by refusing to prosecute over 40 suspects arrested in recent months.
His outcry follows President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Benue, where he ordered security agencies to arrest and prosecute the masterminds of the attacks. But Falana insisted this is not the first time suspects have been paraded without facing justice.
According to him, several arrests have been made—273 suspects detained last December, two more held in January over an illegal arms factory, and others nabbed in April and June for killings and kidnappings—but none have been arraigned in court.
“No fewer than 43 suspected killers have been arrested in the past 10 days alone. Yet, none of them have faced prosecution. This silence is deadly,” Falana lamented.
He urged the Benue Attorney-General, Fidelis Mnyim, to immediately commence prosecution of suspects in custody to restore public trust and ensure justice is served.
The SAN also took a swipe at Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, over a recent remark suggesting that locals in Yelwata were shielding criminals. Falana called the comment a cruel attempt to blame victims.
Citing Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution, Falana reminded both federal and state governments of their constitutional duty to protect lives and uphold justice.
“The killings in Benue cannot go on unchecked. Prosecution is not just legal — it’s a moral and constitutional necessity,” he declared.
