- The assault, reportedly carried out by suspected armed herders, led to multiple deaths and widespread destruction
- Senators noted that the incident is part of a recurring pattern of violence affecting rural communities in the state
- They expressed concern that the persistent insecurity in Apa and surrounding areas has created fear among residents
Nigerian Senate has called on top security officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to step up joint operations aimed at tracking down those behind the recent wave of killings in Benue State.
Eko Hot Blog reports that lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to urgently deploy more military and paramilitary personnel to Apa Local Government Area and other affected communities to restore order.
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The resolutions followed a motion presented by Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, who drew attention to the deadly attack in Ankpali-Edikwu, Apa LGA, on April 12, 2026.
The assault, reportedly carried out by suspected armed herders, led to multiple deaths and widespread destruction.
Senators noted that the incident is part of a recurring pattern of violence affecting rural communities in the state, leading to loss of lives, displacement, and damage to property.
They expressed concern that the persistent insecurity in Apa and surrounding areas has created fear among residents, disrupted farming activities, and threatens food production in the region.
In view of the escalating attacks, the Senate questioned the effectiveness of existing security measures and stressed the government’s responsibility to protect lives and property.
To tackle the crisis, the chamber directed its committees on defence, army, police affairs, and national security to investigate the repeated attacks across Benue South and recommend lasting solutions.
Lawmakers also called for a long-term approach to resolving farmer-herder conflicts, including the adoption of ranching systems, reforms in land use, and community-based conflict resolution strategies.
As part of additional measures, the Senate recommended the establishment of a Police Area Command and a military base in Apa and Agatu LGAs.
It also advocated increased funding for security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, and rapid response in vulnerable areas.
While commending ongoing efforts by security forces, the Senate stressed the need to restructure the country’s security framework to focus more on proactive, intelligence-led, and community-driven strategies.
The chamber observed a minute of silence in honour of victims of the Ankpali-Edikwu attack.
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