As the death toll in the dastardly attack by herdsmen on rural communities in Benue State continue to rise, the National Security Adviser, (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has vowed that the federal government would investigate allegations that soldiers posted to Benue State were complicit in the crime.
The NSA also promised that the government would fish out those military operatives allegedly providing support to the criminals.
Ribadu added that the government through the military has access to intelligence that would provide answers to issues that may arise in the course of their investigations.
The NSA revealed this while answering questions from Journalists over allegations that soldiers posted on duty to the state were colluding with herdsmen, a situation which has heightened herdsmen attacks across the state.
On his part, the Ter Nagi, HRH, Chief Daniel Abomtse, told the NSA that in Gwer-West LGA alone, between 2011 and 2025, affected communities have lost 598 persons in 154 attacks, adding that presently he Senator Titus Zam, representing Benue North-West, have no homes, as a result of the consistent attacks by herders on the LGA.
He requested that the NSA tell the President that the people of the state have an existing law, the anti-open grazing law, which it has activated, therefore the FG should take advantage of it.
It was also alleged that soldiers in most of the affected communities have farms and that when the herdsmen destroy the farms of peasant farmers, the farms owned by the soldiers were left untouched, a situation which has heightened the suspicion of the locals that the soldiers were conniving with herdsmen.
Speaking with members of some of the affected communities, lapalabras.com learned that due to the long stay of some of these soldiers, some of them even have children in those areas.
It would be recalled that some affected communities have protested the continuous stay and in some cases, the overstay of soldiers posted to some communities in the state.
However, responding to the issue of soldiers colluding with herdsmen, the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, said, “I’ve heard what was said (allegations). I’ve taken note of it and we are going to take it back. I can assure you that steps will be taken.
“There are many things we have had, private briefings and of course from traditional rulers that would be reinvigorated, including what you have just said.
“There are other areas that have also been identified. We also have our access on the ground, intelligence information linked to who are working in the communities and one thing I can assure you is that my visit here today is a demonstration that we are together as one and we want to address it as national security.
“Some of these issues have been ongoing since 2011. We are not relenting we will continue to work and we are happy with what the governor is doing. He seems to be mobilizing people to confront this problem. It’s not about ethnic or religious matters, it’s about criminals who are attacking innocent people and we have to come as one and confront it, devoid of politics.
“I have also come to tell you that the armed forces and security forces, all of them are on ground and they will continue to do better. Yes, we may not say a 100 percent that we are getting results or expectations but certainly we are going to do more”, Ribadu assured.
In his remarks at the meeting, HRH, Chief Daniel Abomtse, said, “You have really assuaged our minds and anxiety. First and foremost let us register our solidarity, loyalty and unflinching support to the government of his excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and that of his excellency, the governor of the state, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia.
“The National Security Adviser, you have said it that when evil befall a people, the good people come together to challenge it and defeat it. The governor is working well, doing well and you as the federal government should stand with him.
“Let me take you a few minutes down memory lane on what we are here for and what you have come for. It started in my local government on the 8th of February, 2011, myself and the senator sitting, my son Senator Zam, have no settlement, we have no village, we have no home.
“It has been ransacked ravaged and we are left in ruins and scattered; living in desolate camps, penned up as IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons).
“I am a monarch in charge of 15 districts and as I am talking to you we have nothing and have conjeled in the headquarters of the local government and all of us are dependant on what the governor will dish out as relief, including my humble self. It’s a pitiable situations.
“This situation went on continually, contiguously like an epidemic, involving more than two-thirds of the local governments in Benue state. And the hot beds is Gwer-West, Makurdi, Guma, Kwande, Logo, Ukum Agatu, Otukpo and Katsina-Ala. It’s disastrous.
Chief Abomtse, “We believe your words and I alone for my local government I take stock of the daily killings, the mass murder. The total population as at 17th April, 2025, is 598 (persons that died as requested of the herdsmen attacks).
“The frequency of attacks is 154 attacks since 2011. I have a compendium of the record here that I shall deliver to you so you go through it and see and know what we are going through in this land.
“We appreciate your visit; simply tell Mr President that here in Benue there is a legislation against open grazing and we have activated that and we want the federal government to accentuate on it” Abomtse stated amidst applause
Meanwhile, Elder Pharoah Acka, a community leader in Mbamar, Ugondo, Logo LGA of the state said his community alone lost about 22 persons in last Friday attack by the herdsmen.
He also said, that security men should be given direct orders to station their units in trouble prone areas, so that they can patrol the surrounding villages on motor bikes.
Acka was worried that “Security agents don’t like to camp in the villages. They always station themselves in the LG headquarters each time they are posted to quell skirmishes.
“Most times you see them after the killings have been carried out, even if they have been informed that the massacre is ongoing, only to come and be harassing and intimidating innocent villagers.
“So security agents should be ordered or directed to station their units in trouble prone areas so that they can be patrolling the surrounding villages on motor bikes.
“This will go a long way in curtailing the nefarious activities of herdsmen and hoodlums”, he proffered.
