Chief of Army Staff relocates to Benue after SAN alleges genocide, bias

A petition by Sabastine Hon, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a professor of law, has prompted Olufemi Oluyede, a Lieutenant General and Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to relocate to Benue State amidst escalating violence and accusations of military bias.

Hon, in a letter dated May 26, 2025, accused the Nigerian military of turning a blind eye to the killings of indigenous Benue people by armed herdsmen, describing the situation as nothing short of genocide.

Addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Hon’s petition warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe if the military continued its alleged selective response.

The SAN alleged that the military task force, Operation Whirl Stroke, was now disproportionately targeting indigenous militia groups while ignoring the real threat of heavily armed invaders taking over farmlands and destroying villages.

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According to Hon, over 2,600 people were killed in Benue between January 2023 and February 2024, citing media reports, Amnesty International, and local accounts from Otukpo, Gwer West, Agatu, Logo, and Ukum.

He described the killings as daily occurrences that go unchallenged, blaming military indifference and calling for an immediate restructuring of the current counterinsurgency strategy in the state.

He referenced a May 25, 2025, attack in which Solomon Atongo, a Catholic priest, was ambushed along the Makurdi-Naka road, left for dead, and later rescued by security personnel, an incident that shocked the local Christian community.

Just a day after that, Aondona village was invaded, with multiple deaths and homes razed. Hon claimed these attacks often happen without military intervention unless troops themselves are targeted.

The emergence of a new military outfit, “Operation Planning Cadre,” further drew Hon’s criticism. He said it distracted from the core mission of Operation Whirl Stroke and created operational confusion.

Traditional rulers such as the Tiv and Idoma Councils had issued ultimatums demanding the withdrawal of herders from their lands, moves Hon believed may have triggered a fresh wave of retaliatory attacks.

He urged security chiefs to act immediately, writing: “Clearly, the situation is getting out of hand; and the time for you to act is now, Sirs.”

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In what seems as a response, the Chief of Army Staff on Tuesday relocated to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, for an on-the-ground assessment.

Sources told BusinessDay that the petition prompted a series of high-level meetings, culminating in the COAS’s deployment to lead efforts personally from the front.

Oluyede was accompanied by his Principal Staff Officers and other senior commanders and has held strategic meetings with unit heads and frontline officers already in the state.

The COAS has also ordered the deployment of additional troops to trouble spots and has promised to give the militia groups “the battle of their lives,” according to senior military sources.

While in Benue, Oluyede is touring military outposts and interacting with personnel to boost morale. He has visited some attacked communities to reassure civilians of the army’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

Reports say he is visibly unhappy with the scale of destruction and loss of lives and may approve structural changes within the operational commands, including possible redeployments.

The COAS will spend several days in the state before returning to Abuja, but sources said he would continue to monitor the situation closely and issue direct orders from the field as necessary.

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The army’s renewed attention to Benue comes amid widespread accusations of ethnic cleansing, with attackers reportedly using sophisticated weapons and often operating unchallenged in rural communities.

Many Benue residents and analysts have praised Hon’s intervention as a crucial wake-up call, crediting his bold petition for forcing military leadership to take action against what many consider a long-ignored crisis.

As the situation develops, attention will remain focused on whether the army’s renewed presence and leadership in the state will translate into sustained peace and justice for victims.