Senate Tasks IGP With Probe Into 113 Benue Deaths

The Senate has directed the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to investigate the killing of 113 people, including six Mobile Police personnel, in Benue North-East Senatorial District.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende, who represents Benue North-East under the All Progressives Congress (APC), over recurring attacks in Ukum, Katsina-Ala and Logo Local Government Areas.

Presenting the motion, Udende said the attacks had caused significant loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement of residents.

He listed four separate incidents, including the killing of 24 people in Sai, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area; 63 people in Bom and Aboajio villages in Ukum LGA; and 15 people, including six Mobile Police officers, in Ayilamo, Logo LGA.

The senator also cited the killing of 11 people in Tse Biliji and Tse Shishi Nyako villages in Ukum LGA on October 8, 2026.

According to Udende, the four attacks claimed a combined 113 lives, while the destruction of homes and disruption of economic activities, particularly farming, had worsened the hardship faced by residents.

The Senate condemned the killings and observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims. It also extended condolences to their families and the Nigeria Police Force over the loss of its personnel.

The lawmakers urged Disu, the Chief of Army Staff and heads of other security and intelligence agencies to intensify operations in the affected communities.

They also called for early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms, alongside sustained security measures to protect vulnerable communities against further attacks.

Speaking during the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed concern that armed security personnel had also been killed, questioning the safety of residents who lacked the means to defend themselves.

“If military personnel and other armed security officers are killed in these attacks, what happens to communities that have no means of defending themselves? We must bring this matter to the attention of the Service Chiefs so that they can take appropriate action to strengthen security in the affected areas,” Akpabio said.