By Abdullateef Bambgose
The senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Senator Abba Moro, has criticised the Benue State Government’s response to the latest attacks on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, describing Governor Hyacinth Alia’s N5 million donation to victims as “insulting.”
Speaking with journalists at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Abba said the people were more concerned about protection than financial donations after the attack, which claimed about 20 lives and left several others injured.
He said Governor Alia visited Otukpo and the hospital where victims were receiving treatment after the attack and later offered to pay their medical bills after the initial N5 million donation was reportedly rejected.
“The people told him they were not interested in the money. They are concerned about their protection,” the senator said.
“If it is about paying hospital bills, then the governor should put himself and his family in harm’s way so that they can be attacked, and I will personally pay the hospital bills. That is how serious the security situation has become.”
Abba lamented that residents could no longer sleep in their homes, go to their farms or engage in legitimate businesses because of persistent attacks by armed groups.
He also recalled the recent abduction of mourners conveying the corpse of a retired Deputy Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps to Benue for burial, saying the incident underscored the worsening insecurity in the state.
The senator said the Senate leadership had resolved to meet President Bola Tinubu to convey the concerns of Nigerians over the deteriorating security situation, stressing that some government officials often fail to present the true situation to the President.
“Unfortunately, up till this moment, we have not met with Mr President, while the agony and trauma of people being attacked and killed continue unabated. The situation has reached an intolerable level that is no longer acceptable,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether the attacks should be described as terrorism rather than banditry, Abba said the difference was merely one of semantics.
“If armed bandits have been designated as terrorists in Nigeria, then referring to them as bandits also means we are talking about terrorists. We should not dilute the issue by dwelling on semantics,” he said.
The senator also dismissed suggestions linking the attacks to the recent killing of the Miyetti Allah chairman in Benue, insisting the incidents should be treated separately.
“I am not in a position to link one incident to another. Even if someone was killed elsewhere, it cannot justify the massacre of innocent people in three communities,” he said.
Abba accused the Benue State Government of reacting to attacks instead of taking proactive steps to prevent them despite intelligence reports warning of impending assaults.
“I was informed that intelligence was available about seven days before this attack. I was also told that the Commissioner of Police could not reach the governor despite efforts to alert him.
“Our governors remain in the comfort of Government House issuing statements after attacks instead of taking steps to prevent them. For how long shall we continue condemning attacks instead of preventing them?” he asked.
Asked whether there was official complicity in the repeated attacks, the senator declined to make direct allegations but questioned the level of governance in the state.
“I cannot say who is complicit or negligent. The fact is that these attacks continue while government is expected to protect lives and property,” he said.
On the proposed creation of state police Abba reiterated his reservations despite acknowledging the Senate’s approval of the constitutional amendment.
“I have never been a strong supporter of state police. The majority has taken its decision, and I respect that.
“My concern remains funding. In Benue, personnel of Operation Zenda and other local security outfits are reportedly owed stipends of N15,000 and lack the logistics and equipment needed to confront armed attackers.
“If states cannot adequately fund these existing security outfits, where will they get the resources to finance state police? There is also the risk that state police could be used for political purposes rather than tackling insecurity,” he said.
