Falana-Led Alliance Asks Tinubu Government To End Killings, Abductions In Benue, Plateau, Others

In a statement issued on Monday, the renowned human rights lawyer urged the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to take immediate action to stop the violence.

Human rights lawyer and Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Femi Falana, SAN, has described the persistent killings and abductions of unarmed citizens across Nigeria, particularly in Benue and Plateau States as “unacceptable and preventable.

In a statement issued on Monday, the renowned human rights lawyer urged the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to take immediate action to stop the violence.

He condemned the repeated attacks by armed herders and gunmen in vulnerable communities, demanding urgent government intervention.

Falana acknowledged the prompt response by security agencies following the recent killing of 16 people in Uromi, Edo State, where 14 suspects were quickly arrested.

He also praised Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for visiting Kano State to meet with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the families of the deceased, as well as pledging financial compensation to the victims’ relatives.

“The swift arrest of suspects and intervention by the Edo and Federal Governments helped to calm tensions and prevent reprisal attacks,” Falana stated.

However, he lamented the lack of similar urgency in addressing violence in Benue and Plateau States, where recurring attacks had left scores dead.

He emphasised that the Nigerian government had a constitutional duty to protect lives and must act decisively to bring perpetrators to justice.

Falana urged the Attorneys-General of Edo, Benue, and Plateau States to ensure that arrested suspects were promptly prosecuted to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Questioning the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security architecture, Falana noted that despite the presence of armed forces and law enforcement officers across the country, attacks persist.

“If law enforcement agencies can be mobilised en masse during elections, the same effort should be applied to protect citizens daily,” he asserted.

He further called on the state governments to foster stronger collaboration between citizens and security agencies by encouraging intelligence sharing.

“To achieve security, the Nigerian state must earn the trust and cooperation of its people. We cannot afford to remain passive while our citizens are killed or abducted daily,” Falana warned.