Benue Killings: Alia’s N5m Donation Insulting, Victims Need Protection, Says Senator

The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Senator Abba Moro, has criticised the Benue State Government’s response to the recent attacks on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, describing Governor Hyacinth Alia’s N5 million donation to victims as “insulting.

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Speaking with journalists at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Senator Moro said the people were more concerned about adequate security and protection than financial donations following the attack, which claimed about 20 lives and left several others injured. He noted that Governor Alia visited Otukpo and the hospital where victims were receiving treatment before offering to settle their medical bills after the initial N5 million donation was reportedly rejected.
According to him, the victims made it clear that they were not interested in the money but wanted protection from further attacks. He added that if the issue was simply about paying hospital bills, then the governor should understand the gravity of the security crisis, stressing that residents could no longer sleep peacefully in their homes, visit their farms or carry out legitimate businesses because of persistent attacks by armed groups.
The senator also recalled the recent abduction of mourners transporting the remains of a retired Deputy Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps to Benue for burial, saying the incident reflected the worsening security situation in the state. He disclosed that the Senate leadership had resolved to meet President Bola Tinubu to present Nigerians’ concerns over the deteriorating security situation, noting that some government officials often failed to present the true picture of events to the President.
Senator Moro said the meeting with the President was yet to take place despite the continued attacks and killings, describing the situation as intolerable. Responding to questions on whether the attacks should be classified as terrorism rather than banditry, he said the distinction was only a matter of semantics, insisting that armed bandits already designated as terrorists should be treated as such.
He also dismissed claims linking the attacks to the recent killing of the Miyetti Allah chairman in Benue, maintaining that both incidents should be treated separately and that no circumstance could justify the massacre of innocent people in three communities.
The senator further accused the Benue State Government of reacting to attacks instead of taking proactive measures to prevent them despite intelligence reports warning of impending assaults. He said he was informed that intelligence was available about seven days before the attack and that the Commissioner of Police reportedly could not reach the governor despite attempts to alert him.
According to Senator Moro, governors should not remain in Government House issuing statements after attacks but should take concrete steps to prevent such incidents. While declining to accuse anyone of complicity, he questioned the quality of governance in the state, stressing that government has the constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
On the proposed establishment of state police, Senator Moro reiterated his reservations despite acknowledging the Senate’s approval of the constitutional amendment. He expressed concern over funding, noting that personnel of Operation Zenda and other local security outfits in Benue were reportedly owed monthly stipends of N15,000 and lacked adequate logistics and equipment to confront armed attackers. He warned that if states could not properly fund existing security outfits, financing state police would be difficult and could also expose the system to political abuse.