Hon. Mark Gbilah, former House of Representatives member for Gwer West in Benue State, has raised serious concerns about the ongoing military operations in the state. He alleged that the army is disproportionately targeting his people while ignoring armed herders accused of attacks and land occupation.
Speaking on Arise Television from 12:04, Gbilah stated that while he welcomed the visit of the Chief of Army Staff, he found the visit ineffective, as it did not include a tour of the affected communities. He criticized the army leadership for failing to meet with frontline troops or observe conditions in the conflict zones, which he described as a “war situation.”
Despite commending the security agencies for their efforts, he expressed dissatisfaction, stating they were insufficient. He claimed that some soldiers were failing to respond to attacks and alleged ethnic bias and complicity within the ranks of the military.
He called for a constitutional review to address citizens’ right to bear arms in self-defense, given that communities under siege are being disarmed while attackers remain unchecked.
Stressing the need for fairness and accountability in military operations across Benue communities, Gbilah asked: “If my people are carrying AK-47s, why is the army going after only my people?”
Gbilah explained that calls for military withdrawal stemmed from allegations of collusion with attackers, though he did not support withdrawal outright. He urged the government to act decisively and address growing insecurity in the state.
He backed the governor’s appeal to herders to vacate farmlands to allow farmers return and prevent food shortages. However, he insisted the anti-open grazing law must be fully enforced to prevent further displacement.
On support for displaced persons, he lamented the failure of the federal government to release the N10 billion pledged for their resettlement. He noted that internally displaced persons in Benue were receiving little to no aid, unlike other parts of the country.
Speaking about recent allegations of political complicity in the attacks, Gbilah urged the governor to make intelligence reports public and ensure transparency in accusations against National Assembly members.
