The Nigerian Senate has condemned in strong term, the recent attacks by the terrorists that claimed many lives and properties in some communities in Benue State.
The Upper Chamber also urged the security agencies to as a matter of urgency deploy security personnel to affected areas so as to stop the continued and ongoing attacks by these terrorists.
This was a sequel to a motion of urgent importance brought before the Senate, by Senator Emmanuel Udende Udende, (Benue North East) at the plenary session on Wednesday.
About 50 people were reported killed following attacks in some communities in Kwande, Ukum, Logo and Kastina-Ala Local Government Areas in the State.
Senator Udende said several people were reportedly killed and many others were said to have been missing when the terrorists, parading themselves as herdsmen invaded those communities of the state.
Affected communities
He urged the Legislature to as a matter of urgency come to the aids of these vulnerable and helpless people in the affected communities.
In his contribution, Senator Yisa Ashiru Oyetola(Kwara South) said although there was need to do oversights on the money appropriated for security, but the real problem lies with the people while the government provides the required environment, trust and resources to solve the problem.
For Senator Ahmed Lawan, (Yobe North), he want the leadership of the Senate to meet with President Bola Tinubu who need to know the legislative’s perspectives and issues on security in the country.
“This Senate and indeed the National Assembly since I know it has always given our Defence and Security outfit a lots of attention and a lots of resources, because we believe that despite the constraints of our resources we must do something to improve
“We need Mr. President to insist on value for money. You get more resources, we want to see better security environment.
“The 8th Senate where I was Senate Leader, the 9th Senate where I was the Senate President, all had national summits on security and we had voluminous very rich reports which we forwarded to the Presidency at that time. I believe that we should go back and look at that reports, our leadership should engage Mr. President and came up with those resolutions we passed at this Assembly. So we need to insist on getting better outcome from our security agencies,” he said.
Finding lasting solutions
During the Senate session, Senator Aliya Mohammed Ndume of Borno South emphasised the importance of consolidating the resolutions and reports from both the 9th and 10th Senates. He proposed compiling these documents and presenting them to the President during the National Assembly’s leadership meeting to address the prevailing security challenges in the nation.
“We need to do this as quick as possible, as you have directed the Clerk, we should have all the reports, give it to the clerk, let him do the executive summary of those reports, we want him to look at it and implement far reaching recommendations.”
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio who chaired the plenary put all the prayers into voiced vote, and resolve as follows: “That the leadership of the National Assembly to hold meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on ways of finding lasting solution to terrorists attacks in the country.
“Also for the review of security architecture in the affected areas in other to for stall further occurrences.
“To heighten surveillance and invest in surveillance technology and equipment to detect and prevent future attacks.
“Request the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to immediately mobilize relief materials to the affected people in the areas”
The legislature then mandated all relevant Committees of the Senate to ensure compliance with all their resolutions.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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