The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Aondona Dajoh, has ordered the immediate release of youth arrested during recent protests against incessant killings in the state.
The move, which appears to challenge the stance of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, underscores growing tensions within the state’s leadership over the response to escalating insecurity.
The directive came during an emergency plenary session held at the State Assembly complex in Makurdi.
Lawmakers had reconvened following a wave of public outcry and civil society backlash over the detention of peaceful demonstrators who had taken to the streets to protest the spate of violent attacks across several local government areas.
Many of the protesters had directly accused both the Federal and State Governments of inaction in the face of repeated killings, believed to be carried out by armed herders and bandits in rural communities.
Reports indicated that security forces clamped down on the demonstrations, arresting scores of youths—an action widely viewed as repressive.
Addressing his colleagues on the floor of the Assembly, Speaker Dajoh delivered a firm rebuke of the arrests and asserted the fundamental rights of Benue citizens to freely express themselves.
“Peaceful protest is a constitutional right,” Dajoh declared. “No one should be punished for exercising their voice in a democratic society.
“The youth who protested against killings in their communities did so out of frustration and pain—our duty is to listen, not silence them.”
The Speaker’s remarks were met with resounding applause from members of the Assembly, with several lawmakers echoing his sentiments and calling for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
Civil rights groups and community leaders have since praised Dajoh’s stance, describing it as a “rare and courageous intervention” in defence of democracy and human rights.
“What the Speaker has done is not just about politics; it’s about principle,” said Joseph Iveren, a spokesperson for the Benue Civil Rights Forum.
“These youths were crying out for justice. Arresting them only adds insult to injury. We commend the Speaker for standing with the people,” he told journalists.
Tensions had reportedly escalated after accusations emerged that Governor Alia did not intervene to prevent the crackdown.
Some protesters also alleged that the governor had opposed the protests altogether, a claim yet to be officially addressed by the Government House.
Some youth who took part in the protest have also been allegedly sacked by the state government.
In his remarks, Speaker Dajoh urged security agencies to act with restraint and professionalism in future engagements with the public.
“We expect our security agencies to protect, not persecute. Protesters must be treated with dignity, not disdain,” he said. “This Assembly will not sit idly by while the rights of our citizens are trampled upon.”
The House resolved to engage the Commissioner of Police and other relevant authorities to ensure that all detained protesters are released without delay.
Lawmakers also proposed a formal investigation into the handling of the protest, with a view to preventing future rights violations.
