Vanessa 
Amid growing insecurity in Benue State, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Sabastine Hon, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency. He said this was the only way to protect lives and property from ongoing attacks.
In a six-page petition to the President, Hon described how thousands of residents have died in violent attacks. He said countless properties have also been destroyed by armed invaders who target helpless communities.
Hon, a constitutional lawyer, accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of lacking the capacity to handle the crisis. He also claimed that some security operatives work with bandits and killers instead of protecting citizens.
The legal expert demanded that all current security operatives in Benue be withdrawn. He said they should be replaced with new personnel who are not involved in aiding terrorists.
Hon noted that insecurity is easing in states like Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, and Kaduna. In contrast, Benue’s situation is becoming worse.
He criticized Governor Alia for calling the killings “skirmishes.” Hon said this shows the governor is not serious about ending the violence.
According to Hon, some military commanders in the state appear to be siding with attackers. He described this as disturbing and pointed to specific incidents.
He cited the May 29 attack on Agan community near the Lafia-Makurdi road. Terrorists reportedly carried out the massacre in daylight. This happened despite the presence of a military barracks nearby.
Hon also mentioned the May 24 attack on Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo. The priest was shot while traveling from Makurdi to Naka. His passengers were abducted just 500 meters from a military checkpoint. Soldiers did not respond until the attackers left.
Church Accuses Military of Complicity
Hon said many online reports accuse the military of aiding the attackers. He added that, on May 31, Catholic priests directly blamed the military. According to them, the Church has lost many priests and members. Over 15 parishes in Benue have shut down as a result.
