The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, has raised the alarm that communities in Benue South Senatorial District are “under siege” by armed attackers following the gruesome killing and beheading of a constituent.
Moro, who represents Benue South, spoke Wednesday during plenary, describing the security situation in parts of the district as dire and calling for urgent intervention by security agencies.
The lawmaker told colleagues that Mr. Ujema Emi, a public health worker, was murdered by suspected armed herders.
“One of my constituents, Ujema Emi, a public health worker, was murdered in cold blood. Ujema Emi was reportedly ambushed, killed and beheaded. The severed head was taken away by the assailants,” Moro said.
He identified the Ubube Junction axis along the Ikobi-Ulegapa road as one of several flashpoints where armed assailants frequently attack commuters and residents.
“Benue South is literally under siege,” he declared, lamenting that many communities continue to suffer repeated attacks and residents now live in fear.
Moro accused the Benue State Government of showing insufficient concern over the plight of affected communities.
“Unfortunately, the Benue State Government appears indifferent to the plight of my people,” he said.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Nigerian Army, Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, he said local security structures lack resources to confront the attackers.
“It is only the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps that respond to the cries of the people. Volunteer Guards, Homeland Security personnel and other local security outfits are not sufficiently funded to proactively confront this insecurity,” he added.
Moro also protested the arrest of a youth leader, Mr. Olochi Asailas, who he said coordinated community resistance against armed marauders in Agatu Local Government Area, arguing that the arrest had weakened local efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
“The people have been left vulnerable and at the mercy of heavily armed herdsmen,” he said.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio sympathised with the family of the slain constituent and directed the relevant Senate committees to engage security agencies.
“Our condolences go to the family of the person who was killed. We will refer this matter to the relevant security committees of the Senate to engage the security agencies for appropriate action,“ he said.
