The National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Actions, and Impunity (NCAMKI) has renewed its call for swift and transparent justice for victims of the mass killings and unlawful executions that have plagued Benue State in recent times.
Comrade Babatunde Agunbiade, the coalition’s Interim Coordinator, issued the statement on Sunday, expressing growing frustration over what he described as continued delays and an apparent lack of urgency in prosecuting the suspects arrested in connection to the atrocities.
While commending the Nigeria Police, particularly the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), for carrying out arrests and recovering weapons linked to attacks in Yelwata and other affected areas in Benue and nearby states, the group insisted that such efforts, though welcome, are far from sufficient.
The statement read in part:
“Though we acknowledge the efforts made by the FID-IRT in seizing arms and apprehending suspects, we must stress one crucial truth: Recovering Weapons Is Not Justice. The confiscation of AK-47 rifles and intercepted ammunition contributes to public safety, but it does not substitute for real accountability.
“For survivors and the families of those lost in the Yelwata massacre and similar incidents, justice must come in the form of: Public and transparent trials of the suspects in custody, Prompt filing of formal charges in court, Routine public briefings on case progress, and ultimately, convictions that prove impunity will no longer be tolerated.”
The coalition went further to express serious concern that despite previous confessions from some of the suspects and evidence already made public, no concrete legal steps had been taken to prosecute those arrested.
“Confessions and Seized Evidence Without Legal Action Is a Charade,” NCAMKI stated. “It is troubling that, even after suspects admitted their roles and weapons were publicly displayed, the police have failed to file charges. This delay raises suspicion of possible internal sabotage, lack of political determination, or even an attempt at a cover-up.”
The group also criticized a recent police statement which vaguely claimed that other suspects “will have their day in court after investigations.” According to the coalition, such a response is neither adequate nor acceptable in the face of mass atrocities.
“The killings in Yelwata and elsewhere in Benue are not random occurrences,” Agunbiade noted. “They are part of an ongoing, targeted onslaught on rural populations. That is why we are directly asking: Have the suspects linked to the Yelwata massacre been formally charged in any court? If not, what is causing the delay? When can the public expect to see meaningful prosecution?”
NCAMKI has now demanded the establishment of a public tribunal or an independent judicial commission to probe the mass killings. According to the coalition, such a move is critical given the gravity of the crimes and the need to investigate potential collusion or gross negligence by security officials or political actors.
Their demands include:
- An impartial investigative panel to examine the Benue killings,
- Supervised prosecution by either the Federal Ministry of Justice or an independent prosecutor, and
- Oversight by international observers to ensure fairness and transparency.
“We remain firm in our stance. The petition we submitted and the 14-day deadline we gave were not symbolic gestures. We are demanding: The immediate court arraignment of those already in custody, Access to police investigation files for victims’ legal representatives and human rights groups, and A clear, public timeline for the ongoing investigations and court proceedings,” the statement emphasized.
NCAMKI warned that it will intensify its advocacy if nothing changes. The coalition insists the days of silence, inaction, and impunity are over and that Nigeria must now prove it has the will to deliver justice.
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