The senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro, PhD, on Wednesday tendered before the senate the gruesome murder of a constituent, Ajama Emie, in Apa Local Government Area.
Ajama, a health worker, was ambushed, killed and beheaded by armed bandits on Monday, June 8, 2026. The assailants went away with his severed head.
Standing on Order 42, on matter of personal explanation, Senator Moro said Ajama was killed on the Ikobi-Olegogba along the Ugbokpo-Ikobi road, Ugbobi junction, a location he described as a flashpoint and a safe haven for armed herdsmen.
The senator decried the inaction of the Benue State Government despite the humongous security votes accruing to the state monthly to protect the lives and properties of the people.
He said;
“Like Ikobi like Ojantele-Akwete, like Ankpali Edikwu etc, in Apa Local Government Area; Like Okokolo, like Aila, like Ogbaulu, like Odugbeho, etc, in Agatu Local Government Area; Like Ugbamaju, like Emichi Otobi Akpa, etc, in Otukpo Local Government Area; Like communities in Ohimini and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas, Benue South Senatorial District is literally under siege.
“Unfortunately, in all this, the Benue State Government appears indifferent to the plight of my people. In spite of the humungous security votes of the governor of Benue State it is only the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps that respond to the cry of the people. The Operation Zenda, the Volunteer Guards, the Homeland Security, and all the local security outfits are not sufficiently funded by the state government to pro-actively confront this security menace in the state.”
While calling on Benue State Government to sit up and secure his constituents, Senator Moro expressed dissatisfaction with the arrest and continued incarceration of Oloche Silas, a youth leader who coordinated other youths against the armed marauders in Agatu Local Government Area over allegation of fire arms possession.
His words;
“Very sadly, one Oloche Silas, a youth leader who coordinated repellent activities against the armed marauders in Agatu Local Government Area has been arrested and incarcerated for over a year now on the allegation of illegal possession of fire arms, leaving the people uncoordinated and at the mercy of lethal weapon-wielding herdsmen.
“To add salt to injury, soldiers were alleged to have assaulted and disarmed youth volunteers who had gathered in Ologo and Asaba villages to discuss security challenges and measures aimed at protecting vulnerable communities in the wake of the killing of three farmers in Ikobi.
“Prominent traditional rulers, the Directorate of State Security Service and other prominent voices have been advising that citizens should defend themselves, can communities defend themselves against heavily armed herdsmen with bare hands?” he queried.
Senator Moro called on the leaderships of the senate and country to intervene to free Oloche Silas and other youths in similar circumstances so they can complement the efforts of security operatives to secure the lives and properties of their people who are at the mercy of marauding herders.
In his response, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, sympathized with Senator Moro and the people of Benue South, particularly the Apa/Agatu people, on the death of Ajama and others. He condemned the killing in its entirety and assured that all the necessary measures would be taken to ensure the safety of lives and properties of all Nigerians.
The President of the Senate referred the motion to the relevant security committee of the senate for further legislative actions.
