Femi Falana Accuses Nigerian Government of Shielding Benue Killers from Justice

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

Prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has strongly criticized both the Federal and Benue State governments for failing to prosecute individuals arrested for violent crimes in Benue State. In a statement issued under the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Falana highlighted a disturbing pattern where suspects are paraded after arrests but never face trial.

He referenced several notable incidents: the arrest of 273 suspects in December 2024 with weapons; the discovery of an illegal firearms factory in January 2024; the arrest of three herdsmen linked to the killing of 11 people in April 2025; and the capture of three suspected kidnappers with ransom money in June 2025. He noted that despite dozens of arrests, including 43 suspected killers in just ten days, no major prosecutions have taken place.

Falana also questioned the sincerity of President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive for fresh arrests, warning that previous efforts had not resulted in justice. He criticized the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for blaming local residents for harboring attackers, describing it as a distraction from the government’s security failures.

Calling the lack of legal follow-through “a national shame,” Falana urged the Benue State Attorney-General, Fidelis Mnyim, to immediately begin prosecution of those arrested, warning that continued inaction only fuels impunity and insecurity.