Femi Falana accuses FG of shielding “sacred cows”
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has accused the federal government of shielding perpetrators of mass killings in Benue State by failing to prosecute suspects arrested over the past several months.
Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), described the situation as a dangerous culture of impunity, where those responsible for heinous crimes are treated like “sacred cows.”
His statement follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to security agencies during a visit to Benue, ordering the arrest and prosecution of those behind deadly attacks in the state.
However, Falana said previous arrests have not led to meaningful legal action or convictions. He cited multiple instances where suspects were apprehended but no prosecutions followed.
He recalled that on December 30, 2024, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, confirmed the arrest of 273 suspects linked to capital offences, with the recovery of 20 firearms and 51 rounds of ammunition. Yet, no record of their arraignment has been made public.
Similarly, on January 17, 2024, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced the discovery of an illegal arms manufacturing facility in the state.
Two suspects, Friday Aduduakambe and Lorwashima Lornyume, were arrested with weapons and fabrication tools. Again, no prosecution has followed.
On April 17, 2025, Governor Hyacinth Alia reported the arrest of three suspected herders involved in an attack that killed 11 people in Otobi, Otukpo LGA.
And just days ago, on June 19, community volunteer guards arrested three suspected kidnappers in Otukpo while fleeing with ransom money.
Falana said: “No fewer than 43 suspected killers have been arrested in just the past 10 days, a staggering figure that underscores the scale of the crisis and the lack of legal consequences.”
He stressed that the government’s failure to prosecute arrested suspects was undermining public trust and encouraging further violence.
“The government cannot continue to arrest suspected mass murderers without prosecution. It sends the wrong signal and erodes public confidence in justice,” he warned.
He called on the Benue State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Fidelis Mnyim, to urgently begin the prosecution of suspects in custody, stressing that justice must be served.
Falana also condemned recent remarks by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who suggested that residents in Yelwata were shielding attackers. He described the comment as an unacceptable attempt to shift blame onto victims.
Quoting Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, Falana said both state and federal authorities are duty-bound to protect citizens and uphold the law.
“The increasing wave of bloodletting in Benue cannot continue unchecked. Prosecution of arrested suspects is not just a legal requirement — it is a moral and constitutional obligation,” he stated.
