The Senate has officially directed its relevant security committees to launch a comprehensive investigation into the deteriorating security situation in Benue State and the recent, gruesome murder of a public health worker, Ms. Ojama Emie.
The resolution followed a matter of personal explanation raised under Order 42 during Tuesday’s plenary session by the Senate Minority Leader,Senator Abba Moro, who declared that Benue South Senatorial District is currently “under siege” due to relentless attacks and killings by suspected armed herdsmen.
The lawmaker drew urgent attention to the tragic killing of Ms. Emie on Monday, June 8, 2026. Ms. Emie was reportedly ambushed, killed, and beheaded at the Ugbobi Road Junction in Ikobi, located within the Apa Local Government Area (LGA). Her attackers fled with her severed head.
According to the presentation on the Senate floor, the Ugbobi Junction along the Ugbokpo–Ikobi Road has deteriorated into a notorious flashpoint where motorists and residents are frequently targeted. The Senator listed several communities across the Apa, Agatu, Otukpo, Ohimini, and Ogbadibo LGAs that have suffered repeated, violent incursions, including:
Ikobi, Ojantele-Akwete, Ankali, Edikwu, Okokolo, Aila, Ogbaulu, Odugbeho, Ugbamaju, Emichi, and Otobi Akpa
While commending the federal efforts of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Minority Leader criticized the Benue State Government’s response to the crisis. He alleged that state-backed local security outfits including Operation Zenda, Volunteer Guards, and Homeland Security personnel are severely underfunded, hampering their ability to combat the ongoing attacks effectively.
Furthermore, the lawmaker raised serious concerns regarding:
The Incarceration of Oloche Silas: A youth leader from Agatu LGA who spearheaded community defense efforts. Silas has been detained for over a year on allegations of illegal firearms possession. The Senator argued that his prolonged detention has dismantled local resistance, leaving vulnerable populations exposed.
Military Interference: Allegations were made that military personnel recently assaulted and disarmed local youth volunteers in the Ologo and Asaba communities who had gathered to discuss security strategies following the murder of three farmers in Ikobi.
Responding to the appeal for federal intervention, the Senate leadership has mandated its security committees to immediately engage with the nation’s security agencies.
The committees are tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding Ms. Emie’s murder, probing the broader security breakdown across Benue South, and delivering actionable recommendations to restore peace, protect lives, and review the circumstances of individuals detained during community self-defense initiatives.
