A federal legislator from Benue State has voiced deep concern over continuing security challenges in her constituency, calling for urgent government action to address what she describes as a crisis situation.
Blessing Onuh, who represents Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituency in the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress, spoke out Wednesday in Abuja about the deteriorating security conditions affecting her constituents.
The lawmaker, now serving her second term, said the situation has reached critical levels despite her repeated efforts to draw attention to the matter through legislative motions.
Onuh revealed that she has been using substantial personal funds to cover medical treatment and burial costs for victims of violence in her constituency.
She characterized the attacks as continuous and intensifying.
The representative detailed several recent security incidents to illustrate the severity of the situation. She reported that four people were taken from Asa village in Otukpo Local Government Area on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Two days afterward, on Tuesday, November 11, eleven additional individuals were abducted from Akpegede village.
According to Onuh, those responsible for the attacks maintain visible camps within Otukpo, and security forces are aware of these locations.
“The most painful aspect is that the camp of these criminals is in Otukpo. All the security agencies are aware of it. They are there in their numbers with arms and ammunition,” she said.
The lawmaker provided details of a particularly violent series of incidents that began on November 3, when three community members—Pastor Simon Nkpachi, Inalegwu, and John Ejeh Ijegwa—went missing after going to work on their farms. Pastor Nkpachi’s body was discovered that same day bearing machete injuries, while Inalegwu’s body was found the next day.
The violence continued on November 4, Onuh said, when four more residents lost their lives: Stephen Ajeibi, Titus Ejeh (who was blind), Ekoja Gabriel, and Samuel Peter. The attacks also resulted in the destruction of homes, food storage structures, and agricultural land.
“Up till now, the body of John Ejeh Ijegwa, popularly known as Dealer and an APC community leader, is still missing. Fear has not allowed anyone to enter the bush to search for his body,” she stated.
Expressing her distress, Onuh said: “I am really pained and frustrated. How can I continue to move motions on insecurity without sustained response? Whenever I cry, they respond, but soon they retreat and then more gruesome attacks occur.”
The lawmaker confirmed that seven people were killed in total, with six bodies recovered and taken to Federal University Hospital, Otukpo mortuary. Burial services were scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Onuh directed an appeal to President Bola Tinubu, asking him to instruct the newly appointed Service Chiefs and security agencies to take stronger action against those responsible for the violence and to restore stability to affected areas.
“The killings in my constituency have reached an outrageous level. Every day, we witness the senseless murder of innocent people, and tragically, it is beginning to feel as though it is normal,” she said.
The representative criticized what she termed inadequate responses from local and state officials, who she said issue public statements following attacks but fail to implement meaningful solutions.
“Are these killers above the law? Why is it so difficult to apprehend them and restore peace so our people can sleep with their two eyes closed?” she queried.
Onuh also highlighted the agricultural impact of the violence, noting that farmers have been forced to abandon their land, which is contributing to food scarcity in the area. She mentioned that suspected herders have destroyed farmlands in her constituency.
The lawmaker urged young people in affected communities to avoid retaliatory violence, while assuring residents that she would continue working with political and security leadership to address the crisis.
“I will engage with political stakeholders and security heads to ensure these atrocities come to an end. Our people deserve to live in peace,” she pledged.
