Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has raised alarm over the continued failure of authorities to prosecute suspected killers in Benue State, despite multiple arrests made by the Nigeria Police Force and local security outfits over recent months.
Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), condemned what he described as a culture of impunity, where perpetrators of heinous crimes are treated like “sacred cows.”
His remarks were sequel to a directive by President Bola Tinubu during a visit to Benue last week, in which he ordered the police to arrest and prosecute those behind the spate of deadly attacks in the state.
However, Falana expressed concern that similar arrests in the past have not led to any tangible legal action or convictions. Citing official police data, Falana recalled that on December 30, 2024, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, confirmed the arrest of 273 suspects linked to capital offences, with 20 firearms and 51 rounds of ammunition recovered. Yet, there has been no record of prosecution or trials for those arrested.
Similarly, on January 17, 2024, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced the discovery of an illegal arms manufacturing factory in the state. Two suspects, Friday Aduduakambe and Lorwashima Lornyume, were arrested with a stockpile of weapons and equipment, including nine locally made pistols, an unfinished AK-47 rifle, and various fabrication tools. Yet, no subsequent prosecution has been made public.
On April 17, 2025, Governor Hyacinth Alia reported the arrest of three suspected herders linked to a deadly attack in Otobi community, Otukpo Local Government Area, which claimed 11 lives. Most recently, on June 19, three suspected kidnappers were nabbed by Community Volunteer Guards in Otukpo while attempting to flee with ransom money collected from their victims.
Despite these repeated arrests, Falana lamented that no meaningful prosecutions have followed.
He said, “No fewer than 43 suspected killers have been arrested in just the past 10 days, a staggering figure that underscores the scale of the crisis and the lack of legal consequences.
“The government cannot continue to arrest suspected mass murderers without prosecution. It sends the wrong signal and erodes public confidence in justice.”
He urged the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Benue State, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, to immediately initiate prosecutions against all suspects in custody, stressing that justice must be served both for the victims and the wider community.
Falana also criticised a recent remark by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who suggested that local residents in Yelwata were providing shelter for attackers. He described the comment as an unacceptable attempt to blame the victims of state failure.
Reiterating the sanctity of life, Falana referenced Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, and called on both federal and state governments to uphold their constitutional duty to protect citizens by ensuring there are consequences for violent crimes.
“The increasing wave of bloodletting in Benue cannot continue unchecked. Prosecution of arrested suspects is not just a legal requirement, it is a moral and constitutional obligation,” he stated.
