The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Federal Government to abandon what it described as routine condemnations of mass killings in Benue and Plateau states and launch sustained operations to dismantle terrorist networks responsible for the recurring attacks.
The rights group made the call on Monday while reacting to the latest killings in Otukpo-Nobi and Akpachi communities of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, where at least 16 people, including women and children, were reportedly killed in coordinated pre-dawn attacks.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA described the incident as evidence of the worsening security situation in parts of the country and accused authorities of responding to attacks only after lives had been lost.
The organisation said the repeated killings reflected serious failures in governance and security, arguing that Nigerians deserved proactive protection rather than post-incident assurances.
While condoling with the families of the victims and the people of Benue State, HURIWA urged security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute not only the attackers but also those financing, harbouring or collaborating with them.
The group also criticised the governors of Benue and Plateau states, Hyacinth Alia and Caleb Mutfwang, saying they must demonstrate greater leadership in protecting their communities despite the constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government over policing.
According to HURIWA, state governments should strengthen intelligence gathering, support lawful community-based security initiatives and work more closely with security agencies to prevent attacks before they occur.
It argued that the recurring pattern of violence pointed to weaknesses in intelligence, surveillance and rapid response mechanisms, which armed groups have continued to exploit.
The organisation called on President Bola Tinubu to declare the persistent killings in Benue and Plateau a national security emergency and sustain military and intelligence operations until those responsible are dismantled.
HURIWA also demanded an independent investigation into the repeated attacks to identify operational lapses, expose those behind the violence and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
Warning against what it described as the normalisation of mass killings, the rights group said governments at all levels must move beyond expressions of sympathy and take concrete steps to restore public confidence in the state’s ability to protect lives and property.