Save Benue From Politically Induced Violence, CSOs Tell Tinubu

The Coalition for Civil Society In Nigeria and Advocates of Social Justice have called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing politically induced violence spreading across Benue state.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the convener of the Coalition for Civil Society in Nigeria, Igwe Ude-Umanta, called on Tinubu to immediately deflate those he described as “powers in Abuja,” who he said are backing civil unrest in Benue even if they are top government officials in his administration.

Ude-Umanta informed that his organisation received a letter from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, assuring it that actions had been taken on its petition against the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese and Justice M. M Adamu of the FCT High Court for judicial misconduct.

“However, some dishonourable members of the society have constituted themselves as elements to pull down Benue State and, by extension, Nigeria. They understood the process and believe that the same way they are losing the cases at the Tribunal may go down to the National Judicial Council, NJC, where the Benue Chief Judge is to be tried based on our petition.

“Gentlemen of the press, since the day the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal delivered judgment in favour of the elected councillors from the seven local government areas of Benue North West Senatorial District, zone B, hell has been let loose in Benue. Every day, there are pockets of killings, which we believe are being sponsored by some national assembly members who constitute themselves as enemies of the State.

“We call on the security agencies to immediately go after the serial killers in Benue state. Street and campus cults are being used while they would blame it on the State Governor for failing to provide security even though they know fully well that the state governors do not have control over security matters in Nigeria but the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“These same characters will boldly tell the world they support Mr President, yet they are bastardising his administration and secretly sponsoring insecurity in Benue State. We boldly say that Mr President has achieved so much in security, and all well-meaning Nigerians should support him in doing more. We understand that if the security agencies do a thorough investigation of the killings in Benue, many politicians will go down,” he said.

Ude-Umanta further alleged that those fomenting trouble in Benue were plotting to amplify the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) situation through a mass protest and cause civil unrest in the Nigeria seat of power.

He called security agencies to immediately investigate and charge anyone involved with treasonable felony, no matter how highly placed they were, before it was too late.

The convener urged President Tinubu to watch his back, as the people in question are around the government, have access to funds, and could do anything to prove a point.