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By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives has launched a proactive intervention in response to the worsening security crisis in Benue State, particularly in Guma Local Government Area, where a recent deadly attack claimed the lives of over 200 residents.
At Wednesday’s plenary, the House adopted a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, who represents Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency. In the motion, Tarkighir called for the urgent establishment of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Army in Yelwata, the border community that bore the brunt of the gruesome assault.
In addition to seeking enhanced military presence, the lawmakers resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the persistent wave of violence that has plagued Benue State for more than a decade, leading to the displacement of thousands and destabilization of rural communities.
The House further urged the federal government and security agencies to intensify operations in Guma and other affected areas to protect residents and restore normalcy.
While presenting the motion, Tarkighir painted a grim picture of the June 14, 2025, attack, where suspected armed herders reportedly stormed Yelwata in a pre-dawn raid, leaving over 200 people dead and forcing many more to flee. “It was a horrific massacre,” he said. “Entire families were wiped out, homes reduced to ashes, and survivors now face a dire humanitarian crisis.”
He noted that such attacks have become disturbingly routine, especially during planting seasons. “These killings are cyclical, year after year, our people are murdered on their farms. Their lands are overrun, and their livelihoods systematically destroyed,” he lamented.
Tarkighir decried the transformation of Benue from Nigeria’s acclaimed “food basket” into an “empty basket,” as persistent insecurity has kept farmers from accessing their ancestral lands for over a decade.
In adopting the motion, the House called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and other relevant agencies to immediately provide emergency relief, including medical assistance and food supplies, to the affected communities.
Speaking with Pointblanknews.com after plenary, Hon. Tarkighir offered a heartbreaking account of the tragedy:
“On that dark day, June 14, over 200 of my constituents were butchered in cold blood. Pregnant women were hacked to death. Infants were not spared. It’s a scene of horror I hope no community ever has to witness again,” he said.
He revealed that the President had visited victims at the hospital, offering both sympathy and a promise of action. He also welcomed the announcement by the Inspector General of Police that 24 suspects had been apprehended in connection with the attack. “If true, and if these suspects are prosecuted, this could mark the first time in over ten years that justice is served in cases like this,” he noted.
Tarkighir commended individuals and humanitarian organizations who have offered assistance to the victims but stressed that sustainable security remains the most critical need.
“Our people are traumatized and trying to rebuild their lives from ashes. We are grateful to the President and those who brought relief materials. But more than anything, our people need protection, and they need justice. Only then can we prevent a repeat of this carnage,” he concluded.