A leading Nigerian civil society group has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to request an official investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the deteriorating security crisis in Benue State.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in a strongly worded letter made public on Saturday, urged the President to take decisive international action in the face of repeated attacks, displacement, and mounting casualties in the region.
Signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the letter argued that a referral under Article 14 of the Rome Statute would allow the ICC prosecutor to initiate an investigation into the situation, bypassing the need for pre-trial authorisation.
“Referring the Benue situation to the ICC would reflect the President’s stated promise to ‘hunt down’ those responsible and restore order,” SERAP stated, adding that justice for victims must not be optional.
The group warned that both government and non-government actors may be responsible for crimes under international law, and cautioned that reluctance to act could entrench a culture of impunity.
SERAP contends that Nigeria’s domestic legal and security institutions have proved inadequate in responding to the crisis, thereby necessitating an international probe to secure meaningful justice and reparations for victims and their families.
It also pointed to other Nigerian states suffering similar violence—Kebbi, Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba, and Borno—urging the ICC’s current inquiry in Nigeria to be broadened to include those regions.
“Accountability strengthens democracy and prevents future atrocities. This is a test of Nigeria’s willingness to uphold international justice norms,” the letter read.
The organisation highlighted precedents where African nations, including Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda, had taken similar steps by referring domestic crises to the ICC.
SERAP concluded by stating that an ICC referral would not only assist in identifying those responsible but could also help reform Nigeria’s own justice system and act as a deterrent to future violations.
