Benue Killings: ‘Go After Attackers, CDS Directs Commanders
…Calls for collaboration to stem the renewed spate of killings
…We’re tired of mourning, the time has come to act – Senate reacts to Benue Killings
….Benue Govt declares work-free day for Tinubu’s visit
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has directed military commanders to go after those behind the renewed spate of killings in Benue State.
“We must find out where they are. We must go after them. And that’s the directive I’m giving my commanders,” General Musa said on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
“We have had some areas where we think they are holding up, where they are gathering. We’re going to go after them so that we can dislodge them. We shouldn’t wait until they come to attack people.”
Scores of people have been killed in the food-producing state in the last few weeks following renewed attacks, with many displaced and others severely injured.
That has prompted national outrage and protests.
However, the CDS is suing for peace, and assured the residents of affected communities of the Armed Forces’ efforts to restore calm to the areas.
He said, “The Armed Forces are with you. We are pained about what’s happening. For me, it’s a personal thing. I don’t want to be the chief of defense of our Armed Forces when people are being killed. No, we have gone to Liberia, we’re going to Sierra Leone, we’ve gone to other countries, and have brought peace. Why not in our own country?
“So I want to assure you, no member of the Armed Forces is going to be against one. If we notice anybody who’s there, we’re ready to prosecute that person. But we are going to count on your support so that we can be able to achieve [peace] and work together. We must achieve [peace] together.”
The fresh wave of killings in the North-Central State has prompted President Bola Tinubu to schedule a visit to the state on Wednesday after directing security agencies to go after the attackers and restore peace to the communities.
“In preparation for the visit, President Tinubu has already dispatched the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees to Benue State.
“The President is expected to hold a town hall meeting with all stakeholders during the visit,” a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed on Monday.
Tinubu also sympathized with the people of the state and those who lost their loved ones in the attacks.
Killings: ‘The Armed Forces Are With You’, CDS Assures Benue Residents
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has rallied stakeholders in Benue, calling for collaboration to stem the renewed spate of killings in the food-producing state.
“The Armed Forces are with you. We are pained about what’s happening. For me, it’s a personal thing. I don’t want to be the chief of defense of our Armed Forces when people are being killed. No,” General Musa said on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
“We have gone to Liberia, we’re going to Sierra Leone, we’ve gone to other countries, and have brought peace. Why not in our own country?
“So, I want to assure you, no member of the Armed Forces is going to be against one. If we notice anybody, we’re ready to prosecute that person. But we are going to count on your support so that we can be able to achieve [peace] and work together. We must achieve [peace] together.”
He cited the success recorded in Zango Kataf in Kaduna State through collaboration with stakeholders and believes a similar thing can be achieved in Benue.
The CDS said, “I’m sure you’re all aware I’m from Zango Kataf, and I know when you hear Zango Kataf, you know that we are also having similar issues on the ground. But if you notice, for the past two years, the issues of Zango Kataf have gone, and what have we done?
“One, we made them understand that, look, we need to talk to ourselves because a house that is divided cannot stand. It is only when we are together that we can be able to face our common enemy, and that’s very critical.”
Scores of people have been killed in the food-producing state in the last few weeks following renewed attacks, with many displaced and others severely injured.
That has prompted national outrage and protests.
However, the CDS during the meeting directed military commanders to go after the assailants, promising to fish them out.
“We must find out where they are. We must go after them. And that’s the directive I’m giving my commanders,” he said.
“We have had some areas where we think they are holing up, where they are gathering. We’re going to go after them so that we can dislodge them. We shouldn’t wait until they come to attack people.”
The fresh wave of killings in the North-Central State has prompted President Bola Tinubu to schedule a visit to the state on Wednesday after directing security agencies to go after the attackers and restore peace to the communities.
“In preparation for the visit, President Tinubu has already dispatched the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees to Benue State.
“The President is expected to hold a town hall meeting with all stakeholders during the visit,” a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed on Monday.
Killings: We’re tired of mourning, the time has come to act – Senate
The Senate has cried out that Nigerians are tired of mourning following the everyday massacre of Nigerians in some parts of the country, especially the most recent one where gunmen killed around 200 villagers in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, on the night of Friday, June 13, 2025.
Lamenting, the Senate said that the time has come to act as Security is local, as those in the villages together with traditional rulers and communities must be part of the solution if the bloodshed must be nipped in the bud.
Addressing Journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, APC, Ekiti South said that the scheduled visit of President Bola Tinubu to Benue State tomorrow as part of renewed efforts to foster peace and address the persistent conflict affecting communities in the state will signal that the government, comprising the Executive and legislature is serious.
President Tinubu ‘s visit is aimed at assessing firsthand the recurring crisis that has claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction.
When asked on Security, Benue Killings, and National Response, Senator Adaramodu said, “about the tragic incident in Benue: it was very unfortunate. We sympathize with the victims and families affected. The Senate, in collaboration with the executive, will visit Benue tomorrow with a delegation of Senators to commiserate.
“More importantly, we are organizing a national security summit not just for the military, but for CSOs, media, women, youth, and other critical stakeholders because enough is enough. We cannot keep going from Plateau to Benue, paying condolence visits.
“We are tired of mourning. The time has come to act. Security is local, and locals must be part of the solution. With Mr. President’s support, the Senate and the House have appropriated adequate funds to support the military and security agencies. Together with traditional rulers and communities, we must put a stop to this bloodshed.
“Tomorrow’s visit to Benue will signal that the government is serious, both the legislature andthe executive. When we hold the national security summit, we hope to uncover hidden problems and find lasting solutions to the killings of innocent Nigerians, not just in Benue or Plateau, but across the country.”
When asked why yes votes and not electronic voting by the Senators to give credence to state of emergency in Rivers State by President Tinubu, the Senate Spokesman who noted that the issue was debated in closed-door sessions concerning Rule 131, 132, and 134 of the Senate Standing Orders, said that once a decision is reached in a closed session, it cannot be reopened in plenary.
On Emergency Rule Voting, Adaramodu said, “About voting to endorse the emergency rule: yes, I’m eager to answer that. But first, when we were electing our presiding officers, the rules hadn’t come into force yet. The rulebooks were only handed over after the presiding officers were elected. That’s why the process for electing presiding officers is different from regular legislative procedures.
“Regarding emergency rule: there was a communication from Mr. President on June 12 it was read. And we followed procedure. When it comes to sensitive issues like security, our Standing Orders say such matters must be debated in closed-door sessions Rule 131, 132, and 134. Once a decision is reached in a closed session, it cannot be reopened in plenary.
“Everyone is now a lawmaker, a lawyer, a coach, questioning what they don’t know. But the rules are clear. During the closed session, we debated for three to four hours. Once an agreement is reached, it’s final. The presiding officer then comes back to plenary and puts the question: “Do we affirm what was agreed in the closed session?” Everyone said “Yes.” No one said “No.” That’s where it ends.”
Answering questions on how many times the Senate ought to sit and how many times the Senators sat, Adaramodu explained that the Senate is supposed to sit for 181 days out of 365, which is nearly half the year and that they have sat for more than that.
He said, “In a legislative year, now let’s say 24 months — how many days are we supposed to sit? In 24 months, how many days have we sat? Some say we go on frequent holidays. But we’re supposed to sit for 181 days out of 365, which is nearly half the year. In the Senate, we sit for more than that. We meet the milestone.
“When you talk of holidays, note this: the Senate is not only for plenary sessions. We also sit on committees, conduct oversight functions. But even in plenary, we ensure we meet our milestones. You can check our register. There are months we don’t have any holidays at all.
“Our holidays fall only during public holidays or statutory legislative breaks. When all those holidays are put together Christmas, Easter, etc, they are not even up to two months or three months. So, if we sit for six months out of the twelve, constitutionally we’ve exceeded our mandate. We do that.”
Speaking further, Adaramodu said that in the last twenty- four months, 844 bills were received, out of twenty five became laws following their passage and being assented to by the President, four hundred for second reading, two hundred for first hearing and one hundred and seven at conference committee stage.
On the processnof passage of a bill, he said, “In the passage process, we now have a joint committee of both chambers. After that, they pray, come together with the aggregators, and then we take the documents back for revisions. Once that’s done, we aggregate. After passage, both chambers now come together to harmonize and write everything into a single document. Then the CNA — which is the Clerk of the National Assembly — will sit on that.
“Only after this process can the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives sign it. Then it is transmitted to the President, who will now assent. You know, it was just about two weeks ago that the two chambers passed the bills. Before the concurrence meeting, before the CNA, and before the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives could give their signatures — it’s not something that takes two or three days.
“At every stage, especially when dealing with the budget, the legal departments of both chambers examine the bill again to check if it conforms to existing laws, to avoid sending something to the Presidency that will come back. Even after passing it to the Presidency, the same careful process applies. So, there’s no problem. It is simply due to the process.
“Now, the bills have been signed by both the Senate President and the Speaker. It has left their hands and is now on the way may be in transmission. Wait, wait. I think we’ve transmitted it. Yes, the bill has now been transmitted. I can confirm that: the bill has now been transmitted to the executive.”
On Legislative Powers and Probes, especially on the incident of June 12 at plenary where it was not a proper session, but letters from President Tinubu on appointments in Rivers State were read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Adaramodu said, “Our rules allow us to suspend proceedings to take up important matters. A motion can be moved and seconded for this purpose. These were probes, yes. But our job is to make resolutions, not to enforce arrests. We don’t have power to put a rope on the neck of an errant officer — we highlight issues and expect action to follow.
“In the 10th Senate, when we initiate probes, we do so purposefully. For example, there was an issue with a medicine probe — we discovered midway that what we were pursuing had been addressed due to the pressure from the probe. That’s how some probes become inconclusive. Once the desired result is achieved, the committee reports back. Not all outcomes require a dramatic public conclusion.
On Previous Government and Economic Issues, the Senate Spokesman said, “some offenses being probed now were committed by the past government. For example, we discovered hidden debts that harmed our economy. But when the current government came, they acknowledged and started fixing them. That’s why we don’t need to carry coal to Newcastle, the problem is being solved. The 30% allocation that was contentious before, we brought it back to 5%. So, there’s no reason to cry foul. No need to dramatise something already being fixed.”
Meanwhile, Benue State Government has declared Wednesday, June 18, a work-free day in honor of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s one-day visit to the state.
The President is scheduled to commiserate with the government and people of Benue over the incessant security challenges.
Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Deborah Aber, announced this declaration in a statement issued on Tuesday in Makurdi.
The statement said: “This is in honour of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is scheduled for a one-day visit to the state.”
However, essential service workers, including health workers, security agencies, and bankers, are exempted from the holiday.
The state government has urged residents to turn out in large numbers to receive the President and his entourage
