Urgent Call for Action on Benue Killings by Prof. Hagher

Prof. Iyorwues Harri Hagher, a former Nigerian ambassador to Mexico and senator representing Benue North East, has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the ongoing killings in Benue State. During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, he emphasized the grave humanitarian tragedy that has resulted in the loss of 2,603 lives since the violence began in 2015.

Prof. Hagher described the situation as a crime against humanity and genocide against the people of Sankera, where an estimated 3580.11 square kilometers of land is occupied by Fulani herdsmen and bandits. He urged the Federal Government to ensure the safe return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes and to protect their lives.

Additionally, he called for the declaration of a state of emergency in Sankera, the deployment of sufficient security forces, and the establishment of an independent judiciary and peace reconciliation commission to investigate the root causes of the violence and document atrocities for accountability.