ASUU Calls for Urgent Humanitarian Intervention and Justice for Benue IDPs
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University chapter in Makurdi, Benue State, has made a passionate appeal for immediate humanitarian intervention and long-term resettlement programmes to aid victims displaced by ongoing violent attacks in the state.
In a strongly worded statement jointly signed by the chapter’s Chairperson, Ali Sule Ako, and Secretary, Daniel Chile, and made available to journalists on Tuesday, the union condemned the recent attack on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area. The assault, allegedly carried out by suspected armed herders, has left scores displaced and deepened the humanitarian crisis plaguing Benue’s rural communities.
ASUU described the Yelwata incident as a “painful blow” and another tragic episode in a series of violent attacks that have plagued rural areas in Benue State. The union decried the persistent loss of innocent lives and destruction of property, warning that the worsening insecurity must not be trivialized or ignored.
“The continuous bloodshed and displacement in Benue pose an existential threat to rural livelihoods and food security not just within the state, but across the country,” the statement read.
ASUU called on security agencies to demonstrate a sense of urgency and fairness in responding to the crisis. The union urged both the federal and state governments to fulfil their constitutional responsibility of protecting the lives and property of citizens particularly those in remote and vulnerable regions.
“We call on Nigeria’s security agencies to act with urgency, diligence, and fairness to prevent further bloodshed,” the union stated. “The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must be tracked down and brought to justice without delay.”
Beyond justice, ASUU emphasized the need for immediate relief and structured rehabilitation efforts. The union stressed that displaced persons must not be left to languish in prolonged suffering, urging the government and humanitarian organizations to roll out support systems that guarantee safe return, recovery, and reintegration into their ancestral homes.
The statement further criticized what it described as “government lip service” to rural security, warning that continued negligence could have devastating consequences for agricultural production and national food stability.
“In these trying times, we stand in solidarity with the resilient people of Benue State,” the statement concluded. “We reaffirm our commitment to justice, peace, and the preservation of human life and dignity.”
The call by ASUU-MOAUM adds to the growing chorus of voices demanding concrete action from authorities in response to the wave of insecurity that has left many parts of Benue State in fear, mourning, and displacement.
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ASUU Calls for Urgent Humanitarian Intervention and Justice for Benue IDPs