Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Benue State is tired of burying its own.
After yet another massacre in Yelwata, where over 200 lives were lost in a single night, the Benue State House of Assembly has had enough. In a powerful and emotional plenary session, lawmakers called on citizens to defend themselves—legally and responsibly—and demanded the full enforcement of the anti-open grazing law to stop the bloodshed.
🚨 “We Can’t Keep Watching Our People Die”
The motion, moved by Terwase Uche, representing Guma 1 Constituency, was more than just political—it was personal.
🔴 Armed herders stormed Yelwata, burning homes, slaughtering families, and leaving a trail of devastation. 🔴 Lawmakers described the attack as “ethnic cleansing” and “terrorism”, not just random violence. 🔴 The Assembly declared three days of mourning—June 18 to 20—to honor the victims.
Speaker Aondona Dajoh didn’t mince words: > “We urge our people to remain vigilant and defend themselves within the ambit of the law. Enough is enough.”
🐄 Anti-Open Grazing Law: A Sleeping Giant?
The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017, was once hailed as a bold step to end farmer-herder clashes. But enforcement has been inconsistent.
Now, the Assembly wants it fully activated—no more excuses.
> “We must stop the killing of innocent people by armed herders,” the lawmakers declared.
⚖️ A Divided Front? Governor Alia Pushes Back
While the Assembly calls for lawful self-defense, Governor Hyacinth Alia is urging caution.
He warns that untrained civilians confronting armed attackers could worsen the crisis. Instead, he’s advocating for community policing as a safer, more strategic solution.
> “You don’t fight guerrilla warfare with sticks and emotion,” Alia said on national TV.
🧠 Final Thoughts—A State on the Edge
Benue is at a crossroads.
The people are angry. The lawmakers are frustrated. The governor is cautious. But one thing is clear: Benue cannot afford to lose more lives while waiting for help that may never come.
Whether through community policing, legal self-defense, or stronger enforcement of grazing laws, the time for action is now.
💬 Should citizens take up lawful self-defense, or is community policing the better path? Drop your thoughts below.
