Nigeria’s Northern Senators Forum has condemned the recent deadly attacks in Benue and Kaduna states, describing the killings of innocent civilians as heartbreaking and unacceptable.
The Forum said an attack on the Efeyi community in Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, on 28 July claimed 13 lives and left several others injured. It also condemned the 26 July attack on Naridon village in Kamaru Ward, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where around 30 people, including women and children, were killed and several homes destroyed.
The senators extended their condolences to the governments and people of Benue and Kaduna states and to the families of the victims. They also expressed sympathy for residents displaced by the violence and called for sustained humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
The Forum welcomed the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to tackling insecurity under President Bola Tinubu, particularly the approval to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and recruit an additional 28,000 personnel.
It said the initiative would strengthen operational capacity, improve border security, decentralise military command and enhance rapid responses to security threats across the country.
The Forum stressed that the reforms must be supported by adequate funding, modern equipment, improved logistics and better welfare for security personnel.
It also urged communities to provide security agencies with credible intelligence and called on the Federal Government to bring those responsible for the attacks to justice while delivering relief to victims and displaced residents.
