Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has criticised both the Nigerian and Benue State Governments for what he describes as gross negligence in handling violent crimes and killings across the state.
In a statement issued under the platform of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Falana condemned the continued failure to prosecute arrested suspects, accusing authorities of treating them “like sacred cows.”
He urged the Benue State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, to act swiftly and ensure justice is served.
His comments followed President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue, where the president ordered the police to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the latest wave of attacks. But Falana dismissed the directive as merely symbolic, pointing to a disturbing pattern of unkept promises and stalled justice.
He cited the December 30, 2024, announcement by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, who revealed that 273 suspects had been arrested for capital crimes—yet no convictions have been recorded.
Falana also referenced several major incidents, including the discovery of an illegal arms factory in January, the arrest of herdsmen linked to 11 killings in Otukpo in April, and the recent capture of three kidnappers in June. None of these, he said, have led to meaningful prosecutions.
He further criticised the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for blaming residents of Yelwata community for “harbouring criminals,” describing the remark as an attempt to scapegoat victims.
Falana noted that between January and June 2025, dozens of suspects have been arrested—including 43 in just the past ten days—yet no substantial prosecutions have followed.
“It is a national disgrace that despite overwhelming evidence and confessions, justice continues to elude the victims and their families,” he said.
