Benue Attack: Why It Took Two Hours for Security to Arrive

He claimed that despite being stationed close to the impacted villages, the security forces in the area had not responded quickly enough to distress calls.

Abu Umoru, a member of the Benue State House of Assembly, has charged that security personnel had been in his area too late on several occasions to stop armed herdsmen assaults, leaving people heartbroken and defenseless.

Following a recent horrific incident in his neighborhood that left at least six people dead, Umoru, who represents the Apa constituency, stated in an interview on Channels TV.

He claimed that despite being stationed close to the impacted villages, the security forces in the area had not responded quickly enough to distress calls.

He expressed frustration at the helplessness of the people, adding that the persistent violence had continued despite the existence of an anti-open grazing law in the state.

“Benue Killings: The security officers are always arriving at the scene when the perpetrators are done with their act. It took the officers stationed close to the scene of the attack over two hours to come after the herdsmen left.” 

“Well, the security is always arriving the same way that the headers have done, and which has no impact on our people any longer.”

“Because when we cry for help, nobody is there. I can tell you, we have some communities who are not far from this place that this attack happened on Sunday.”

And they were not there. It took them over two hours after the people that perpetrated the act had left the community.”

“So when they arrive, there is nothing they will come to do.”

“They have done what they want to do, and they have left the community. And this is not the first time it happened in our country, in our local government, about six people were lost.” 

“Kidnapping on the farm, on the road, raping of our mothers and our sisters. It's all going every day as I speak to you.”

Thus, we are powerless. Additionally, this state will have laws against open grazing and anti-grazing. Furthermore, we have no idea what is going on. I can assure you that my community is powerless.

"My constituents have no recourse. You occasionally get a call from them. What are you doing? How are you keeping them safe?

My job is to create laws. Implementation is the executive's responsibility. This is my second visit to the House of Assembly. Additionally, there was a legislation against open grazing when I arrived, but it hasn't been enforced.