Worsening insecurity: Niger govt imposes curfew; 11 killed afresh in Benue
In light of the ongoing violence in Benue and Plateau states, Niger State Governor Umaru Bago announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the capital, Minna, due to the persistent killings in the city.
The governor indicated that this curfew might be extended to other local government areas, highlighting motorcycles, commonly referred to as Okada, and tricycles (Keke NAPEP) as primary means of transportation utilized by criminals for their illicit activities.
This announcement coincided with reports of 11 individuals being killed by herdsmen in recent attacks in Benue State. Furthermore, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Plateau State urged the Federal Government to permit states to establish their own police forces to combat the rising tide of violence and attacks nationwide. Additionally, Prince Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2023 elections, criticized President Bola Tinubu for his inadequate response to the deteriorating security situation in the country.
During a crucial stakeholders' security meeting with traditional leaders and heads of security agencies at the Government House in Minna, Governor Bago pledged to lead operations throughout Minna to eliminate criminals who have recently engaged in violent acts.
He clarified that medical emergency personnel would be exempt from the curfew, emphasizing that this measure was implemented to tackle the escalating security issues in the state capital.
The governor also cautioned district, village, and ward leaders to ensure accurate documentation of individuals residing in their areas, stating that any property found to be sheltering criminals would be demolished, and buildings associated with the sale of illegal drugs would also face destruction.
“The responsibility of any government is to secure the lives and properties of its citizens and I will not stay back and watch criminals continue to perpetrate evil in the state.
“However, fighting insecurity should be everybody’s business and that is why we should all join hands to identify the hideouts of these criminals and flush them out because they live within us. I am ready to lead the operation to their hideouts and bring them to book,” the governor vowed.
He urged the state's security forces to implement strict measures against criminals, their hideouts, and their networks. Bago also advised parents to caution their children, emphasizing that anyone involved in violent activities would face arrest and legal action.
The governor reiterated the state government's unwavering stance against thuggery and disorder. In a related incident, 11 individuals were reported dead following renewed assaults on the Afia community in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. Consequently, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, expressed concern over the dire security situation inherited by President Tinubu, who is diligently working to address the issue.
During a meeting with the visiting NSA and key stakeholders at the Benue Government House in Makurdi, the Ter Ukum, HRH Iyorkaa Kaave, revealed that the attackers struck Afia early yesterday morning. He stated, 'The armed herdsmen launched their assault on Afia in the early hours of yesterday, and we have so far recovered 11 bodies from the community, with ongoing search efforts.' He further urged President Tinubu to understand that the community cannot coexist with murderers disguised as herdsmen, noting that these are not the same herdsmen who once lived harmoniously with them.
In his address, Mallam Ribadu expressed condolences to the victims' families and assured the community that the threat would be overcome, stating, 'We will prevail. The nation stands with you. I extend my sympathies to the people of Benue and assure you that we are fully committed to supporting you during this challenging time.'
“We will confront it. Benue is an extremely important state to Nigeria. We must fight and maintain Benue as a peaceful state. The governor is doing well and we will support him. It is unfortunate but it happens sometimes.
“Our armed forces are doing well. It is impossible to post soldiers or police to every hamlet. Give us the chance and stop politicising the killings. This will help us to restore peace. Issue of security is relative.
“We inherited an extremely bad government and things have improved and we will address all these issues cropping up. It is a matter of time, to do the harm is easy but to solve it is difficult. We have reduced considerably the number of violence we met. This one too, we will confront it.”
Governor Hyacinth Alia, who decried the activities of the marauders in the state since 2011, said the state was under siege.
He said: “These people do not have any reason to live with normal people. We are faced with series of loss of lives, farmlands and property. We have 17 IDPs camps in the state. It becomes difficult to get our IDPs back to their ancestral homes.
“Sankera is our headquarter of food. The attacks have been persistent and continuous. Instead of a good Friday, we had a black Friday with venomous attacks on Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo LGAs
“It is quite devastating. It is telling on us. 72 lives lost. It is a terrible moment for us. I have always established contact with the NSA. Our security agencies have worked assiduously to curtail the attacks. We need help like yesterday. The President has been very supportive and we hope that support will come.
“We have bought 100 hilux vehicles to support conventional security agencies, bought 600 motorcycles. This is carnage. Attack is more of onion layer, it is vicious. We ask that support be upped. ‘’We will collaborate with the federal government to stop the killings. It is evident that what we are experiencing is a bare faced attack as the attackers speak Fulani and Hausa.
‘’It is a troubling trend. It is deliberate attempt, they disbalance the people, kill a good number of them and occupy.
“The attacks are under-reported. We are helpless. We do not have AK-47 rifles, we are defenseless. We tell the people to be law abiding and the attackers take advantage of this. We are not in a banana Republic.”
The two principal leaders of the state, Tor Tiv VI, His Royal Majesty James Ayatse, and Och’Idoma, His Royal Majesty Dr. John Odogbo, convened a meeting on Monday with stakeholders from the two predominant tribes to address the security issues facing the community.
The meeting, called by the Tor Tiv, took place at his palace in Gboko and was attended by notable figures of Tiv descent, including Governor Alia, former governors Samuel Ortom and Gabriel Suswam, current federal and state assembly members, political appointees, and leaders from the 14 Tiv-speaking local government areas. While the specifics of the discussions were not disclosed, the Tor Tiv conveyed his optimism regarding the leaders' attendance and their commitment to the welfare of the Tiv people. Similarly, the meeting organized by the Och’Idoma in Otukpo included distinguished members of the nine Idoma and Igede-speaking communities. Reports indicate that this meeting also addressed the recent incursions by armed herdsmen in Idoma territory and other related matters. In response to the ongoing violence in Plateau State, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) urged the Federal Government to permit states to establish their own police forces to combat the rising tide of killings and assaults nationwide. Leah Hassan, the Chairman of the NBA Jos Branch, made this appeal during a press conference attended by the leaders of the other three NBA branches in Plateau State. Hassan denounced the recent violent incidents in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas, which led to numerous fatalities and the displacement of many residents.
“We cannot continue to be silent in the face of these barbaric and evil acts of killing innocent citizens and taking over their ancestral lands, making them strangers in their own homes. ‘’States should be allowed to establish state police who will be armed with weapons to defend our communities,’’ he stated.
The NBA urged the Federal Government to take concrete action, including deployment of adequate security personnel to vulnerable communities and empowerment of those communities with means of self-defence.
It also demanded immediate identification, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible for the attacks, along with provision of relief and rehabilitation for victims, especially women and children.
“The Nigerian Bar Association branches on the Plateau are deeply saddened and pained by the recent spate of violent attacks in Bokkos and Bassa LGAs of Plateau State, which have claimed numerous innocent lives and left many others injured, displaced, traumatised, and grieving.
“It is utterly heart-wrenching that while Plateau State is yet to recover from the horror and pain of previous attacks, our peace is once again shattered by another wave of senseless and barbaric killings. ‘’These acts of violence are a direct assault on our shared humanity, the rule of law, and the fundamental right to life as enshrined in our Constitution,” Hassan added.
She referred to the April 15, 2025, statement by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, which called on government to fulfill its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
“We adopt the President’s address, calling on the government to uphold the tenets of the Constitution of t
