From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Benue North East (Zone A), has strongly condemned what it described as “the gruesome and barbaric attack” launched on Abande settlement in Mbaikyor Ward, Turan District of Kwande Local Government Area of the state by armed herdsmen which claimed no fewer than 17 lives.

The party noted that credible reports indicated that no fewer than 17 persons were brutally killed, with several others injured and properties destroyed during the unprovoked attack, calling for immediate and decisive government action.

In a press statement signed by the PDP State Vice Chairman (Zone A), Abraham Waroh, on Wednesday, the Zone A PDP extended deepest condolences to the people of Kwande Local Government Area, particularly the families of the victims, and sympathized with those injured and displaced as a result of the heinous attack.

“We are deeply saddened by the continued loss of innocent lives and call on the relevant security agencies to act decisively by identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting the perpetrators of these atrocities.

“Regrettably, the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia has consistently failed in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property in Benue State.

“Worse still, speaking out against insecurity has seemingly become forbidden, as the Alia administration has entrenched a culture of denial by downplaying the attacks, disputing casualty figures, and refusing to confront the grim reality facing the people”, Waroh said.

The party reminded Governor Alia that the primary purpose of government is the protection of lives and property, maintaining that any administration that fails in this fundamental duty has failed entirely.

“Sadly, the failure of the Alia government in the area of security is glaring, undeniable, and evident even to the least informed observer.

“In view of this monumental failure, the PDP believes that the honourable course of action for Governor Alia is to resign, so that a competent and courageous governor who is capable of defending the people of Benue State can take charge.

“This call has become necessary as the administration persistently ignores warnings and intelligence reports of impending attacks, only to respond after scores of innocent people have been murdered, often followed by attempts to deny or diminish the scale of the tragedy”.

The PDP noted with deep concern that beyond Kwande, several other local government areas, including Ukum, Logo, Guma, Gwer West, Agatu, Apa, and Otukpo, are bleeding daily under the wave of insecurity. Yet, the Alia administration has largely remained silent, offering neither firm condemnation nor words of reassurance to traumatized communities.

“We will therefore not be surprised if, in keeping with its established pattern, the Alia administration fails to officially condole with the people of Kwande or unequivocally condemn the tragic attack on Abande community”, Waroh stated.

The Senate on Wednesday approved a major adjustment to Nigeria’s electoral timetable, reducing the period within which the Independent National Electoral Commission is required to publish the notice of election from 360 days to 180 days.

The decision followed the adoption of an amendment moved by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Tahir Monguno, who proposed that the earlier requirement of 360 days be reviewed downward to six months.

The change was made during clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, which lawmakers subjected to scrutiny in a session that lasted about four and a half hours.

Consideration of the bill commenced at about 2 p.m. and stretched until 6:26 p.m., underscoring the intensity of deliberations on the wide-ranging electoral reforms contained in the proposed legislation.

The Electoral Act amendment bill was the only item listed on the Senate’s Order Paper for the day, following a valedictory session held in honour of the late former lawmaker, Okey Ezea.

At the Committee of the Whole, senators reviewed all 155 clauses of the bill, approving the legislation after adopting the committee’s report.

While several provisions of the existing Electoral Act were amended to reflect emerging realities in Nigeria’s electoral process, the majority of the clauses were retained as originally proposed.

The reduction in the notice period is expected to give INEC greater operational flexibility while still providing sufficient time for political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to prepare ahead of general elections, as the National Assembly continues efforts to fine-tune the country’s electoral legal framework ahead of future polls.

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

Prince Adewole Adebayo, leader and former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), on Monday declared that the Nigerian Police Force is a direct reflection of Nigeria’s development, history and future, urging the nation to invest boldly in policing if it truly desires peace at home and credibility abroad.

Adebayo made the remarks in Lagos at a two-day symposium on “The Nigeria Police Force and the Peace Process in Africa,” organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

The event brought together key security and policy leaders, including the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the NIIA, Professor Eghosa Emmanuel Osaghae.

“Nigerian police is like a shadow following Nigeria,” Adebayo said in his lead address.

“If there is any aspect of policing you are not satisfied with, it is simply a reflection of our life at a particular time. To have a better police, we must have a better society, because the police is a reflection of what the society is.”

Tracing the roots of the force to Lagos in 1861, Adebayo noted that the Nigerian Police was international in outlook from inception, having been created to secure trade routes and protect global commercial interests along the coast.

According to him, decades of military rule and poor democratic prioritisation weakened investment in policing, even though the police remained the “guardian of democracy.”
He stressed that effective policing is impossible without peace, good laws, strong community relations and serious capacity building. “Good policing costs money,” Adebayo said.

“You cannot praise the police in speeches and budget poorly for them. Forensics, helicopters, investigations — these things cost billions. If you want the police of your dreams, send your best and most courageous children to the force.”

Earlier, NIIA Director-General Professor Osagie delivered a sweeping historical account of Nigeria’s global peacekeeping footprint, describing the Nigerian Police Force as one of the most experienced peacekeeping institutions in the world.

From Congo in 1960 to Kosovo, East Timor, Somalia, Sudan, Haiti and beyond, Osagie said Nigerian police officers have played extraordinary roles in restoring peace, often rising to command positions within the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS missions.

“The only police force that comes close to Nigeria in peacekeeping operations is India,” he said.

“It is not only when we sleep well in Nigeria that we remember the police, but when Liberia, Senegal or Kosovo sleep well too.”

Osagie praised Inspector General Egbetokun for expanding Nigeria’s international policing presence and announced plans for an International Centre for Peacekeeping in partnership with the Police Force.

He acknowledged existing domestic challenges but insisted that the police have undergone remarkable transformation over the past two decades in skills, training and professionalism.
In his keynote address, IGP Kayode Egbetokun highlighted Nigeria’s enduring commitment to multilateral peacekeeping, noting that over 12,000 Nigerian police officers have served across multiple continents under the UN, AU and regional missions.
“The true impact of peacekeeping is not always captured in reports,” Egbetokun said.

“It is seen when schools reopen, markets return and public trust is restored.”

He outlined the evolving challenges facing modern peace operations, including terrorism, transnational crime, cyber threats and resource constraints, but described them as “imperatives for reform, innovation and partnership.”

According to the police chief, Nigeria’s future peacekeeping strategy will focus on specialised capabilities, institutional modernisation, regional integration, research collaboration with institutions like the NIIA, and sustained police reform at home.

“International credibility is inseparable from domestic professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights,” Egbetokun said.

“Nigeria will not retreat from responsibility. We will stand, credibly and consistently, on the side of peace.”

The symposium ended with a call for deeper collaboration between policymakers, security agencies and civil society, as speakers agreed that Nigeria’s role in global peacekeeping remains both a national pride and a solemn obligation to future generations.