PWAN Calls for Urgent Action as Benue State Security Crisis Deepens

Last updated: June 17, 2025 4:31 pm

3 Min Read

The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (PWAN) has issued a stark warning about escalating violence in Benue State, describing the situation as a national emergency requiring immediate federal intervention.

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In a statement released Tuesday, the civil rights organisation expressed alarm over repeated attacks on communities that have resulted in mass displacement, deaths, and widespread property destruction. The group attributes the violence primarily to armed herders and criminal elements operating with apparent impunity.

“The persistent failure to protect lives and prevent these atrocities reflects a breakdown in both preventive and responsive mechanisms at local, state, and federal levels,” PWAN stated, directly challenging Nigeria’s security leadership, including the Police Force, military, and intelligence agencies.

Executive Director of PWAN, Kemi Okenyodo

The organisation highlighted particularly devastating impacts on vulnerable populations. Women and children face increased risks of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation in displacement camps, while elderly residents unable to flee have been abandoned during attacks. Thousands now face hunger and exposure after being forced from their homes.

Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, PWAN warned of broader implications for Nigeria’s food security. Benue State, known as the country’s “Food Basket,” has seen dramatic declines in agricultural production due to destroyed farms, displaced farmers, and livestock losses. The disruption threatens regional food systems and deepens hunger across affected communities.

The rights group called for coordinated federal security operations to protect civilians and restore order, urging the Benue State Government to strengthen humanitarian response mechanisms. They also appealed to the National Assembly to exercise legislative oversight and develop policies addressing land-based conflicts and climate-induced displacement.

“Security agencies must act to forestall the occupation of deserted lands by persons believed to have links to the killings and violence,” the statement emphasised, warning against allowing the crisis to develop into protracted insecurity.

PWAN stressed that the situation demands “urgent, sustained, and inclusive action that prioritises human dignity, civilian protection, and long-term peacebuilding,” while pledging continued support for rights-based and community-led approaches to resolving the crisis.

The organisation’s call comes amid growing concerns about security challenges across Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where conflicts between farmers and herders have intensified in recent years.

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TAGGED:Benue State National Assembly PWAN

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