By Rejoice Peterside, Abuja
The Senate has strongly condemned the recent deadly attack on Yelwata, a community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, describing it as a senseless act of violence against innocent Nigerians.
The attack, which occurred between June 9 and 18, 2025, reportedly resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement of residents.
The motion was moved by Senator Titus Zam (Benue North-West), who decried the persistent insecurity in parts of Benue and called for urgent government intervention. He urged the Senate to stand in solidarity with the affected people and ensure that the Federal Government acts swiftly to restore peace and justice.
“This attack is yet another brutal reminder of the vulnerability of our rural communities. The people of Yelwata have suffered greatly, and the government must not turn a blind eye,” Senator Zam said. He called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and operations in the area.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) shared a deeply emotional story, revealing that the son of one of his staff members whom he was sponsoring in school in Benue was among those killed in the attack.
“This is not just another tragic news headline. This hits home,” Ningi said. “The boy who died was like a son to me. He had dreams, he was in school, and now he’s gone. We cannot continue like this. The Senate must visit the community and show that we care. Our security agencies must do more, and we must give them the necessary support.”
He also pledged to be part of the proposed Senate delegation and urged that logistics be made available immediately for the visit.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) lent his voice in strong support of the solidarity visit, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for personally visiting the scene of the attack a rare gesture that he said signaled seriousness from the Executive.
“I commend the President for his leadership. His visit to the affected community was not just symbolic, it was necessary. But now the Senate must complement that effort by going there ourselves. We must be seen to act, not just talk,” Senator Jimoh said.
In his remarks, the Senate President echoed the concerns raised by his colleagues. He confirmed that President Tinubu had already ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and expressed confidence that justice would be served.
“The President believes that the investigation will unravel the perpetrators of this heinous act and ensure that they are brought to book. As a Senate, we will not rest until those behind this are held accountable,” he said.
The Senate also called on the Federal Government to immediately deploy more troops and security personnel to Yelwata and other affected areas in Benue State to stabilize the region and prevent further attacks.
The motion was unanimously adopted, with senators across party lines expressing outrage over the attack and calling for a coordinated national response to rural and communal violence.
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