Senate Decries Benue Massacre, Declares: ‘We Are Tired of Mourning’ Calls for National Action on Security
By peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Nigerian Senate has expressed deep frustration over the relentless spate of killings in the country, particularly the most recent massacre in Benue State, where gunmen killed about 200 villagers in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, on the night of Friday, June 13, 2025.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), declared that Nigerians are exhausted from mourning and called for urgent and coordinated action to halt the bloodshed.
He emphasized that security must begin at the local level and involve traditional rulers, local communities, and security agencies.
“We are tired of mourning. The time has come to act. Security is local, and locals must be part of the solution,” Adaramodu said.
He confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to visit Benue State tomorrow, accompanied by a delegation of lawmakers, to assess the situation firsthand and demonstrate the seriousness of both the executive and legislative arms of government in addressing the crisis.
“Tomorrow’s visit to Benue will signal that the government is serious both the legislature and the executive. Together with traditional rulers and communities, we must put a stop to this bloodshed,” he stated.
Plans for National Security Summit
In response to the recurring violence across Nigeria, the Senate is also organizing a National Security Summit, which will include participation from the military, civil society organizations, the media, women, youth, and other key stakeholders.
“We cannot keep going from Plateau to Benue, paying condolence visits. Enough is enough,” Senator Adaramodu stressed.
He disclosed that the National Assembly has already appropriated adequate funding to support the military and other security agencies in curbing the violence.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the Senate’s endorsement of emergency rule in Rivers State without electronic voting, Adaramodu defended the process.
He explained that sensitive security matters are often discussed in closed-door sessions, in accordance with Senate Standing Orders 131, 132, and 134.
“Once a decision is reached in a closed session, it cannot be reopened in plenary. That is why the presiding officer only seeks a verbal affirmation afterward,” he clarified.
He also addressed concerns about the frequency of Senate sittings. According to him, the Senate is constitutionally mandated to sit for a minimum of 181 days per year and has consistently exceeded this requirement.
“Even during breaks, Senators are engaged in committee work and oversight duties. Our holidays are mostly during statutory public holidays. We meet our milestones,” he added.
Speaking on legislative productivity, Senator Adaramodu revealed that in the past 24 months, the Senate received 844 bills, of which 25 were passed into law. About 400 bills passed second reading, 200 went through first reading, and 107 reached the conference committee stage.
He detailed the multi-stage process of passing a bill, including harmonization between the two chambers, legal scrutiny, and eventual assent by the President.
“It’s not a two- or three-day affair. Every bill goes through rigorous legal and procedural checks before it is signed and transmitted to the executive,” he said, confirming that the most recent bill had now been transmitted to the Presidency.
Addressing the issue of inconclusive legislative probes, Senator Adaramodu explained that some investigations end once the underlying issues are resolved through pressure or executive intervention.
“Our job is to make resolutions, not to enforce arrests. If the goal of the probe is achieved early, we report back. Not all outcomes require a dramatic public ending,” he explained.
Touching on the Senate’s review of economic policies, Adaramodu noted that some of the issues being probed originated during the tenure of the previous administration. These include hidden debts that significantly damaged the economy.
“The current government acknowledged the problems and is working to fix them. For example, we reduced the controversial 30% allocation back to 5%. So there’s no need to cry foul or dramatize,” he said.
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