killings in Benue: Lawmaker appeals to Tinubu for urgent military intervention

By Stanley Onyekwere

In the wake of a devastating wave of violence that has allegedly claimed over 50 lives in less than a month, Hon. Lady Onyeche Blessing Onuh, member representing the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, has sent a dire, urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demanding immediate, direct presidential action to halt the ongoing bloodshed.
Describing her constituency as a region under total siege, the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker warned that communities across Benue State are facing an existential crisis as armed assailants launch relentless, coordinated attacks on innocent citizens.
In a high-stakes letter addressed to the President and Commander-in-Chief on July 28, 2026, Hon. Onuh highlighted that existing security measures have proven grossly inadequate to deal with the scale of violence.
Despite multiple legislative motions, press briefings, and stakeholder engagements, the body count continues to rise.
“I write to you today on behalf of the traumatized and grief-stricken people of Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency with a heavy and bleeding heart.
“Our people are under siege. The recent wave of violence has forced hundreds of helpless citizens to abandon their homes and means of livelihood out of fear,” Hon Blessing Onuh stated.
She urged the President to halt the assault and prevent total collapse in the affected communities, the federal lawmaker outlined four critical requests for immediate execution:
Deployment of a Joint Task Force (JTF).
“Establish an immediate, permanently stationed JTF combining military, police, and security agencies across Otukpo and Ohimini to ensure rapid response times.
“Accelerate the establishment of the proposed military barracks in Otukpo, elevating it from a long-term development proposal to an urgent strategic necessity.