National Coalition Demands Justice For Victims Of Benue Mass Killings, Says Ammunition Recovery By Police Not Enough

Comrade Babatunde Agunbiade, Interim Coordinator of the coalition disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

The National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Actions and Impunity (NCAMKI) has again called for urgent justice for victims of the mass killings and extra-judicial executions in Benue State.

Comrade Babatunde Agunbiade, Interim Coordinator of the coalition disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

While hailing the police for several arrests, Agunbiade alleged the refusal or delay in charging those arrested to court despite the expiry of our 14-day ultimatum – saying this disposition raised deep concerns.

The statement read, “While we commend the stated efforts by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) in arresting suspects and recovering weapons tied to the Yelwata and other mass killings in Benue and surrounding states, we must assert emphatically:

“Weapons Are Not Justice. Recovering AK-47s and intercepting ammunition is commendable as part of crime prevention. However, for the victims and survivors of the Yelwata massacre and similar atrocities, justice is not complete without: Public, transparent prosecution of those already arrested, Timely filing of charges in court against named suspects, Regular public updates on the status of these cases, And most importantly, convictions that signal an end to impunity.

“Confessions and Evidence Without Court Action Is a Mockery. NCAMKI reminds the Nigeria Police that suspects in the Yelwata massacre have already confessed, and recovered exhibits were previously announced. The refusal or delay in charging these individuals to court – despite the expiry of our 14-day ultimatum – raises deep concerns about: Possible internal sabotage, Lack of political will, or A deliberate cover-up.

“Why Has No One Been Charged? Your press release mentions “others in custody will have their day in court upon conclusion of the investigation.” This is neither acceptable nor justifiable. The killings in Yelwata and across Benue are not isolated incidents. They are part of a systematic and prolonged assault on rural communities. We therefore ask directly: Have the suspects who confessed to the Yelwata killings been arraigned? If not, why? What is the timeline for prosecution and public disclosure?

“We Demand a Public Tribunal or Judicial Inquiry. The scale of these killings and the growing body of evidence point to possible complicity or negligence within security agencies and government circles. NCAMKI is calling for: An independent panel of inquiry into the Benue mass killings, Supervision of prosecution by the Federal Ministry of Justice or an independent counsel, and International observers to monitor the process.

“Our Demands Stand. Our petition and 14-day ultimatum were not ceremonial. We await: The immediate arraignment of suspects already in custody, Access to the police file for victims’ lawyers and civil society representatives, And a public timeline for the remaining investigations and prosecutions. We shall escalate our advocacy if the status quo remains. The era of silence and impunity is over.” 

SAHARA REPORTERS