A prominent attorney petitioned Nigeria’s president to declare a military emergency as Fulani herdsmen killed at least 86 people in predominantly Christian areas of Benue state in the past two weeks, including 46 on Sunday (June 1), sources said.

Sebastine Hon, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a prestigious designation conferred upon recommendation of the Nigerian Bar Association, wrote to President Bola Tinubu on Monday (June 2), demanding immediate measures to halt the growing bloodshed in his native Benue state.

“The security situation in my state, however, is VERY FAST slipping out of hand,” Hon wrote. “From the above abridged narration of the unfortunate developments in Benue state, it is MOST IMPERATIVE that a state of military emergency be declared by Mr. President in the state.”

The deplorable security situation in Benue state compelled him in late May to write to leaders of the military and police calling for action, he wrote.

“I personally wrote a joint letter to the Chief of Defense Staff, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of State Security Services, detailing the failings of the military and paramilitary operations in the state,” Hon wrote. “Till date, nothing has been done, as is clearly evident from recent ugly happenings in the State, about the situation.” In predominantly Christian Gwer West County, Fulani herdsmen killed at least 68 people over the past two weeks, including 18 slain on Sunday (June 1) in Tse Antswam, on the outskirts of Naka town, residents and community leaders said.

Community leader Daniel Abomtse said the assailants were Fulani herdsmen.