From Fred Itua, Abuja
The Senate on Wednesday, resolved to meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with all the resolutions on a motion towards ending the continued killings of farmers by armed herdsmen in Nigeria.
The Senate’s position was on the heels of a motion on the continuous killings by suspected terrorists parading as herdsmen and insecurity in Kwande, Ukum and Logo and Katsina Ala Local Government Areas in Benue North East Senatorial District.
Presenting his Motion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, senator representing the area, Emmanuel Memga Udende, revealed “that no fewer than 50 persons have been killed in fresh attacks on several communities in Kwande, Ukum, Logo and Katsina Ala Local Government Areas of Benue State by terrorist parading as herdsmen.
“The affected communities some of which were attacked as recently as yesterday 5th March, 2024 include Tyuluv, Borikyo, Kundav, Ugbaam, Uyam, Udedeku, Yaaiwa, Nyihemba, Tomatar , Menakwagh , Yiase and Agura all in the Benue North East Senatorial district of Benue State.
“Residents of the villages and communities now find themselves targeted on a daily basis by heavily armed terrorist herdsmen, and the toll continues to be staggering as they bear the brunt, with reports of marauders butchering several villagers, leaving many homes completely burnt down and numerous residents still missing while the perpetrators, however, remain elusive and have not been apprehended.
“This pathetic situation and development have inflicted untold hardship on women, children and the elderly, who are trekking long distances in search of a safe haven and awaiting the intervention of security operatives.
“This situation, in addition to the loss of lives and property, has already impacted negatively on the economic lives of the people and the resultant effect of shortage of farm produce is one of the reasons for the astronomical rise in the prices of agricultural produce and inflation in the country.
“Despite the public outcry and previous resolutions of the National Assembly as regards the criminal activities of these terrorists parading as herdsmen, there seems to be no visible action on the part of government to curtail, abate or totally stop the criminal activities of these criminal elements.”
Contributing to the motion, senator representing Borno South and Chief Whip, Mohammed Ali Ndume, said the Senate was tired of observing a minute silence while herdsmen and terrorists continue to kill innocent citizens.
He said: “This issue of security, we can’t continue to be coming here everyday or at least every week to observe one minute silence. Then next week we have something like that or more than that; then you say you condemn, we observe one minute silence.
“The leadership of both houses of the National Assembly on behalf of our colleagues, need to sit down with the President who is the Commander-in-Chief. Our security has the capacity. All they need, as I said, is training, equipment, motivation (TEM).”
Amongst other resolutions, the Senate
urged the Chief of Defence staff, Chief of Army staff, Chief of Air staff, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and heads of other security agencies to as a matter of urgency, deploy security personnel to address the continuing and ongoing attacks by armed terrorist parading as herdsmen on communities in Kwande, Ukum, Logo and Katsina Ala Local Government Areas of Benue State with a view to flushing out the herdsmen, stop the killings and restore normalcy to the affected communities.
They also urged that there should be heightened surveillance and investment in surveillance technology and equipment to detect and prevent future attacks.
It urged the review of the security architecture in the area to forestall the continuous attacks.