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Summary
Hon. Blessing Onuh has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the worsening insecurity in Benue State, condemning the rising killings and criticising security agencies for their inaction.
The lawmaker representing Otukpo-Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Blessing Onuh, has raised alarm over the escalating insecurity in her constituency, calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt the wave of killings in Benue state.
Speaking in Abuja on April 1 2025, Hon. Blessing described the incessant attacks and killings in Otukpo as a “national emergency” that demands immediate action. She urged President Tinubu to direct security agencies to intensify efforts in apprehending the perpetrators and restoring peace to the affected communities.
“The killings in my constituency have reached an outrageous level in recent weeks. Every day, we witness the senseless murder of innocent people, and tragically, it is beginning to feel as though it is normal,” she stated.
She expressed frustration over security agencies’ perceived inaction, criticising the frequent statements issued by officials at both state and local levels without tangible results.
Hon. Blessing also cited recent incidents to illustrate the severity of the crisis. She recounted that just a day prior, a retired customs officer, Mr Onche Akatu, was brutally murdered in Asa 2 community, Otukpo Local Government Area. At the same time, two members of his family were abducted.
“The most painful part is that two members of his family were kidnapped after his gruesome murder. Should the dead man now rise to pay ransom for their release? My heart bleeds,” she said.
She also highlighted the killing of Ms. Felicia Ochigbo, a nursing mother, in the Old NTA Area of the Asa community, as well as the murder of another resident, an Igbo man.
She questioned the inability of security agencies to bring the attackers to justice.
“Are these killers above the law? Why is it so difficult to apprehend them and restore peace so that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed?” she queried.
Hon. Blessing Onuh also raised concerns about the economic impact of the violence, noting that fear of attacks has forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands, exacerbating food shortages in the region.
She urged her constituents, particularly the youth, to refrain from reprisal attacks, warning that taking the law into their own hands would only escalate the crisis.
