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Kingsley Joshua
The Senate, on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to speedily intervene in the worsening insecurity in Benue South.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, over the beheading of a public health worker by suspected armed herdsmen.
Rising under Order 42 on matters of personal explanation, Moro told the Senate that Ojama Emie was ambushed, killed and beheaded on Monday, June 8, 2026, at Ugbobi Road junction in Ikobi, Apa Local Government Area. His severed head was taken away by his assailants.
“Ugbobi junction is a safe haven for armed herdsmen that frequently ambush road users,” Moro said, describing the killing as one in a series of deaths in the hands of suspected herdsmen.
The lawmaker painted a grim picture of Benue South, listing flashpoints across five LGAs now “literally under siege.”
“Like Ikobi like Ojantele-Akwete, like Ankpali Edikwu etc. in Apa LGA, like Okokolo, Aila, Ogbaulu, Odugbeho etc. in Agatu LGA, like Ugbamaju, Emichi Otobi Akpa etc. in Otukpo LGA, like communities in Ohimini and Ogbadibo LGAs, Benue South Senatorial District is literally under siege,” he said.
Moro accused the Benue State Government of indifference despite “humungous security votes” available to the governor.
He noted that only federal security agencies — the Nigerian Army, Police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps— respond to distress calls, while local outfits including Operation Zenda, Volunteer Guards, and Homeland Security “are not sufficiently funded to proactively confront this security menace by the state and local governments.”
The Minority Leader disclosed that Oloche Silas, a youth leader who coordinated “repellent activities” against marauders in Agatu LGA, has been arrested and incarcerated for over a year on allegations of illegal possession of firearms.
This, he said, has left communities “uncoordinated and at the mercy of lethal weapon-wielding herdsmen.”
Moro further alleged that soldiers assaulted and disarmed youth volunteers who gathered in Ologo and Asaba villages to discuss security measures after three farmers were killed in Ikobi.
“Prominent traditional rulers, the Directorate of State Security Service, have been advising that citizens should defend themselves. Can communities defend themselves against heavily armed herdsmen with bare hands?” Moro queried.
The Senate, following Moro’s presentation, urged the Federal Government to step into the matter and restore security across the affected communities in Benue South.
Moro specifically appealed to the Senate leadership and the Federal Government to intervene to free Silas “and others in similar circumstances so they can help to free the people.”
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, subsequently referred the motion to the Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Defence, and Police Affairs for urgent legislative action.
