By George Mgbeleke

The Senate has condemned the killing of 113 persons, including six mobile police officers, in a series of coordinated attacks on communities in Benue North-East Senatorial District, calling on the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to end the persistent violence.

The resolution followed an urgent motion moved on Thursday by Senator Emmanuel Udende, representing Benue North-East Senatorial District, under Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, drawing the attention of the upper chamber to the renewed wave of killings in parts of Ukom, Katsina-Ala and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State.

Presenting the motion, Udende lamented that the attacks, which occurred during the Senate recess, had claimed numerous lives, destroyed property worth millions of naira, displaced thousands of residents and disrupted farming activities across the affected communities.

According to the senator, 24 persons were killed in Sai community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, while 63 others lost their lives in attacks on Mbaom and Aboju villages in Ukom Local Government Area.

He further disclosed that 15 persons, including six mobile police officers who were on duty, were killed in Ayilammo, Logo Local Government Area. Additional killings were also reported on October 8, 2026, in Sebiliji and Seshishi Nyaku villages in Ukom Local Government Area.

“In total, 113 precious lives were lost, properties worth millions of naira destroyed, and thousands of families displaced from their ancestral homes,” Udende told the Senate.

He warned that the recurring attacks had inflicted severe hardship on residents, particularly farmers, whose livelihoods depend largely on agriculture.

The senator expressed concern that the persistent violence had not only resulted in the loss of lives and property but had also undermined economic activities and heightened insecurity in rural communities across the state.

Contributing to the debate, senators expressed concern over the scale of the killings, particularly the reported death of six mobile police officers during the attacks.

The lawmakers argued that the killing of security personnel underscored the urgency of strengthening security operations in the affected communities, warning that residents would remain vulnerable without a sustained and coordinated response from the relevant authorities.

They called for the deployment of additional security personnel, improved intelligence gathering and more effective operational strategies to prevent further attacks and protect lives and property.

Following deliberations, the Senate unanimously adopted the prayers of the motion, condemning the killings and acts of violence reported in the affected communities.

The resolution specifically covered Katsina-Ala Local Government Area; Bon and Abu Aja villages in Bansum Council Ward; Zebiliji and Zeshishi Yako villages in Mbatian Council Ward, all in Ukum Local Government Area; and Ayilammo in Tombo Ward of Logo Local Government Area.

The Senate called on the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to halt the recurring attacks in Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Logo and other vulnerable communities across Benue State.

It urged the government to ensure coordinated security operations, backed by adequate personnel, equipment and other operational resources, to prevent further bloodshed and restore confidence among residents.

As part of its resolutions, the Senate called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and the heads of other security and intelligence agencies to strengthen security operations in the affected areas.

The security agencies were also urged to establish effective early warning and rapid response mechanisms, investigate the reported killings, apprehend those responsible and ensure sustained protection for vulnerable communities.

The lawmakers stressed the need for improved coordination among security agencies to enable them to respond promptly to threats and prevent attacks before they escalate.

In another resolution, the Senate mandated the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency and other relevant authorities, to provide immediate relief materials and humanitarian assistance to displaced persons and other victims of the attacks.

The intervention is expected to address the urgent needs of affected families who have been forced to flee their homes and may have lost access to food, shelter and other essential supplies.

The Senate also mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to follow up with the relevant security agencies to ensure the implementation of its resolutions, particularly the deployment of additional security personnel to the troubled communities.

The directive is intended to ensure that the Senate’s resolutions translate into concrete action to improve security and protect residents in the affected areas.

The Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of those killed in the attacks and expressed condolences to the bereaved families and affected communities.

The lawmakers also commiserated with the Nigeria Police Force over the loss of the six mobile police personnel reportedly killed while on duty in Ayilammo, Logo Local Government Area.

The renewed violence has heightened concerns over the safety of rural communities in Benue State, where recurring attacks have disrupted agricultural activities, displaced residents and threatened livelihoods.

Benue, widely recognised as one of Nigeria’s major food-producing states, has continued to face security challenges linked to communal violence, farmer-herder conflicts and attacks attributed to armed groups.

The latest killings have renewed calls for a sustained security response, effective intelligence gathering and stronger protection for vulnerable communities, as residents struggle to cope with the humanitarian and economic consequences of the violence.

The Senate’s resolutions place renewed emphasis on the responsibility of the Federal Government and security agencies to protect lives, bring perpetrators to justice and prevent further attacks in Benue State.

By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the reported killing of passengers by armed bandits along the road to Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, describing the attack as a cruel assault on the sanctity of human life and the safety of innocent citizens.

HURIWA demands effective and efficient coordination among security agencies, backed by proactive, intelligence-led operations, to prevent further bloodshed and protect Nigerians travelling on the nation’s highways.

Reports indicate that the armed assailants intercepted a vehicle conveying passengers returning from Sokoto city on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and opened fire on those inside. The exact number of casualties had yet to be officially confirmed as of Thursday.

Conflict reporter Bakatsine, who covers security developments in northwestern Nigeria, reported the incident and shared photographs of some of the victims.

Some of those reportedly killed were said to be among the 3,000 people recruited by the Sokoto State Government who had travelled to the state capital for further screening and collection of their documents.

HURIWA describes the reported attack as a disturbing reminder of the grave security risks confronting citizens on roads in parts of northwestern Nigeria.

The association insists that security operations must move beyond reactive responses after attacks have occurred. Intelligence gathering, information sharing, strategic deployment and timely intervention must form the foundation of efforts to dismantle armed criminal networks and protect vulnerable communities.

HURIWA calls on the relevant security agencies to urgently investigate the incident, establish the identities and number of victims, track down the perpetrators and ensure that all those responsible are arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The association warns that the killers must not be allowed to escape justice. Every failure to identify and bring perpetrators of such atrocities to account risks deepening public anxiety and weakening citizens’ confidence in the ability of the state to protect their lives.

HURIWA also urges the Sokoto State Government and relevant federal authorities to cooperate fully with security agencies, provide necessary operational support and ensure that affected families receive timely information and appropriate assistance.

While acknowledging the challenges confronting security agencies, HURIWA maintains that the protection of lives and property remains a fundamental responsibility of government that must be pursued with urgency, professionalism and measurable results.

The association calls for stronger highway surveillance, improved intelligence networks and closer coordination among the police, military and other relevant security agencies to prevent armed groups from turning public roads into killing grounds.

HURIWA extends its condolences to the families of the victims and calls on authorities to provide transparent updates on the incident as investigations proceed.

By Our Correspondent

The Senate has through its committee on Public Accounts , rejected records of volume of Petroleum importation presented to it by Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority ( NMDPRA) for 2022 and 2023 on account of wide disparities between them and those presented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL).

It consequently resolved to summon heads of NMDPRA , NNPCL and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ( NEITI) for possible reconciliation of the records or final exposure of suspected fraud to have been carried out.

Wide disparities in records of NMDPRA and NNPCL on volume of PMS imported by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2022 and 2023 , came to the fore when management of NMDPRA responded to queries leveled against it in the NEITI Audit report of 2021 to 2023 .

Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA ( ACE) , Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar , represented by a Deputy Director , Uzoamaka Ugwu – Ojobe , had in responding to NEITI query, told the committee that NMDPRA records on volume of Petroleum importation were credible despite disparities with those of the NNPCL .

” We stand by 3.29billion litres of PMS as volume imported in 2022 and 6.02billion litres as volume imported in 2023 against 6.27 billion litres recorded by NNPCL in 2022 and 3.88billion litres in 2023.

” The slight disparities are being looked into for possible reconciliation “, she said .

Irked by her submission , a member of tbe committee, Senator Abdul Ningi ( Bauchi Central ) , said disparities of over 50% are not slight but wide and very disturbing and suspicious .

” The disparities in records of PMS importation between NMDPRA and NNPCL in 2022 and 2023 as stated in the NEITI Oil and Gas Industry Audit report of 2021 to 2023 , are too wide to be described as slight or being looked into without the seriousness required”, he said .

Also miffed by the huge disparities in the records , Senator Dayo Faduyile ( Ondo South ) , said the disparities leave a lot of room for someone to think that something is amis .

Outrightly rejecting the NMDPRA’ s defence , Senator Anietan Bassey ( Akwa Ibom North East ) , said thorough investigation of the wide disparity must be carried out by the committee as according to him, Nigerians must not be allowed to be shortchanged on yearly basis as glaringly shown with the NMDPRA and NNPCL records of PMS importation .

“Mr Chairman and very distinguished colleagues , these questionable records of volume of PMS importation by the two agencies , must be thoroughly investigated to safe Nigerians from being yearly shortchanged and expose those milking the country dry .”, he said .

Consequently , the committee chaired by Senator Hassan Dankwabo ( Gombe North ) , rejected the NMDPRA defence and resolved to call for tripartite meeting of the agencies involved soonest .

“In view of the unacceptability of presentations made by representative of NMDPRA on queries raised against it in the NEITI Oil and Gas Audit report covering 2021 to 2023, specifically on volume of PMS imported within the years under review , this committee resolved to summon heads of NMDPRA , NNPCL and NEITI for reasons behind the wide disparities “, he said .