Benue Massacre: MPA Demands Arrest of Killers, Condemns Security Lapses
The Masev Progressive Assembly (MPA) has issued a scathing condemnation of the recent killings in Mbalom, located in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, describing the acts as barbaric and calling for immediate action from security agencies. The association expressed profound shock and grief over the brutal invasion, which resulted in the deaths of numerous innocent and defenseless citizens over the weekend.
Barbaric Attack on Peaceful Community
In a strongly worded statement released by its President, Barr. Polycarp Tersoo Aande, the MPA highlighted the senseless nature of the attacks, where marauding herdsmen, suspected to be Fulani militia, unleashed a wave of violence. The statement emphasized that the sanctity of human life is fundamental to any civilized society, and the wanton destruction witnessed in Mbalom represents a grievous assault on humanity, directly threatening peace, stability, and coexistence in the region.
The MPA extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost loved ones in what it termed a senseless carnage. It also commiserated with the entire people of Gwer East Local Government Area and the government and people of Benue State, acknowledging that no words can adequately capture the sorrow of those affected by this devastating tragedy.
Call for Intensified Security Measures
The association stressed that the continued massacre of innocent citizens in rural communities must not be normalized or tolerated under any circumstances. It reiterated that the security and welfare of the people remain the primary purpose of government, urging the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Benue State Government, and all security agencies—including the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps—to immediately intensify security operations in Gwer East and other vulnerable areas across Benue State.
Furthermore, the MPA called for the swift apprehension, thorough investigation, and prosecution of the perpetrators of this heinous crime. It insisted that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, warning that failure to act decisively would only embolden those who perpetrate violence against innocent citizens.
Urgent Need for Proactive Security Architecture
The statement underscored an urgent need for a sustained and proactive security architecture capable of preventing future attacks and guaranteeing the safety of rural communities, which continue to bear the brunt of repeated acts of violence. At this difficult moment, the MPA called on the people of Benue State to remain calm, united, and vigilant while cooperating with security agencies in efforts to restore peace and order.
The association concluded with a prayer for eternal rest for the souls of those who lost their lives and for comfort and strength for their grieving families, asserting that the blood of the innocent cries out for justice.
