Nigerian Senate declares fatigue over constant killings in Benue and beyond, calls for urgent security overhaul and national summit on insecurity
Senate condemns Benue killings as lawmakers voice growing frustration over the wave of bloodshed plaguing various regions in Nigeria, particularly the states of Benue, Borno and Plateau.
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The National Assembly has said it is exhausted from sending condolences while citizens continue to be slaughtered in escalating attacks.
During a press briefing at the National Assembly in Abuja, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, lamented the repeated loss of life across the country.
“We are tired of paying condolence visits. We are tired of mourning our people from Plateau today, Benue tomorrow, and Borno the day after,” he said.
The latest massacre in Benue State left over 100 civilians, including women, children, displaced persons, and security personnel, dead.
Survivors have been left traumatised, homes destroyed and entire communities displaced in what many have called another dark moment for Nigeria’s national conscience.
As part of the Senate’s immediate response, a delegation of lawmakers will accompany President Bola Tinubu on a solidarity visit to Benue State.
The visit is expected to provide moral support to the grieving communities and reaffirm the federal government’s presence in the face of tragedy.
Adaramodu also revealed that the Senate is initiating broader interventions.
These include legislative backing for enhanced security measures and plans for a national security summit that will include civil society groups, youth leaders, media professionals, and other key actors.
“This is not a task for the military alone,” the senator said. “The summit must involve everyone. Nigeria cannot afford to normalise this kind of violence.”
While acknowledging that legislative collaboration with the security sector has yielded marginal results, he admitted that the recent resurgence of violent attacks has made it clear that a new strategy is required.
“We cannot claim success while communities are razed and families are being wiped out,” Adaramodu said.
“The situation in Benue, Plateau, and Borno must be confronted with urgency and resolve.”
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With tensions at a boiling point in many parts of the country, the Senate’s reaction signals a shift towards more coordinated national efforts against the deepening insecurity crisis.
