Falana Slams FG, Benue Over Inaction on Arrested Killers: ‘Suspects Treated Like Sacred Cows’
Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has strongly criticized both the Federal Government and the Benue State Government for their persistent failure to prosecute suspects arrested over recurring violence and killings across the state.
In a statement released under the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), which he chairs, Falana lamented the glaring absence of justice, despite numerous arrests made over the years for crimes ranging from illegal arms possession to mass killings and kidnappings.
His comments followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue, during which he directed the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute individuals responsible for the latest attacks. Falana, however, dismissed the directive as potentially symbolic, citing a history of unfulfilled promises and lack of meaningful convictions.
He also faulted the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for accusing Yelwata residents of shielding the perpetrators, describing it as a diversionary tactic aimed at blaming victims rather than addressing institutional security failures.
Falana recalled key arrests, including 273 suspects and 20 firearms seized as announced by the Benue Police Commissioner in December 2024, the discovery of an illegal arms factory in January 2024, and multiple arrests involving herdsmen and kidnappers between April and June 2025. Yet, he pointed out, “no significant prosecutions have been reported.”
He stressed that the pattern reveals a troubling trend: “It is undoubtedly clear that the authorities have continued to treat suspected killers in Benue State like sacred cows.”
Calling for urgent action, he urged the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Benue, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, to “take immediate steps to ensure that justice is served,” insisting that impunity must no longer be tolerated.
