Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has lampooned the Federal and Benue State Governments for delay in prosecuting arrested suspects in connection killings across the state.

This was contained in a statement issued under the platform of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), which he chairs.

According to him, even though many suspects have been arrested over the years for crimes ranging from illegal possession of firearms to mass killings and kidnapping, most of them are never charged or brought to justice.

His reaction comes in the wake of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue, during which he ordered the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute all those involved in the latest wave of violence in the state.

The legal luminary, however, described the president’s directive as potentially symbolic, noting that previous arrests had not led to convictions or justice for victims.

The senior lawyer also took a swipe on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for accusing residents of Yelwata community of providing shelter for the killers.

He said the CDS’ statement was an attempt to shift blame onto victims instead of addressing the systemic failures of security and governance.

“On December 30, 2024, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hassan Yabanet, announced the arrest of 273 suspects involved in capital crimes, along with the recovery of 20 firearms and 51 rounds of ammunition.

“On January 17, 2024, Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed that an illegal firearms factory had been uncovered in Benue. Two suspects—Friday Aduduakambe and Iorwashima Iornyume—were arrested, and a cache of weapons, including nine locally made pistols and one unfinished AK-47, was seized.

“On April 17, 2025, Governor Hyacinth Alia disclosed that three herdsmen were arrested over the killing of 11 people in the Otobi community, Otukpo Local Government Area.

“On June 19, 2025, Community Volunteer Guards apprehended three suspected kidnappers at the Otukpo motor park with ransom money collected from their victims,” Falana highlighted.

The human rights lawyer also said that between January and June 2025 alone, dozens of violent crime suspects have been arrested, including 43 suspected killers in the last 10 days, adding that despite these arrests, no significant prosecutions have been reported.

“It is undoubtedly clear that the authorities have continued to treat suspected killers in Benue State like sacred cows.

“The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Benue State, Mr Fidelis Mnyim, must take immediate steps to ensure that justice is served,” he maintained.