Senate, on Wednesday, said it would meet with President Bola Tinubu over the insecurity in Benue State and Nigeria at large.
According to The PUNCH, the Senate resolution followed a motion titled: “Motion On the Continuing Killings by Suspected Terrorists Parading as Herdsmen and Increasing Insecurity in Kwande, Ukum, Logo And Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas in the Benue North-East Senatorial District Of Benue State.”
The motion was brought by Senator Emmanuel Udende, representing Benue North-East, under “Matters Of Urgent Public Importance Pursuant To Orders 41 And 51 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended).”
The Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke, Maj. Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, confirmed that 30 people were killed in the clash.
Fielding questions from journalists during a press conference held at the old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, the force commander said, “It was a clash between two militia groups resulting in deaths. We went there and for whatever reason they had the clash, I don’t know.
“But our initial visit revealed that 30 people were killed”.
On his part, the state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, said, “So far, we have recovered five corpses but a search for people is ongoing.”
At the Senate, the lawmaker representing Benue North-East lamented that the attack on the communities had gone unabated since Tuesday.
He said, “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.
The Senate, in its resolution, decided that its leadership will “visit Mr president Bola Ahmed Tinubu with all the resolutions on the motion towards ending the continued killings of farmers by armed herdsmen in Benue North-East and Nigeria at large.”
The resolution further read: “Convey condolence of the season to the people of Benue North-East Senatorial District. To lead a delegation to the Governor of Benue State to find out his efforts on the and challenges.
The Red Chamber also added that “The Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, the Inspector General of Police and heads of other security agencies to as a matter of urgency.
“Deploy security personnel to address the continuing and ongoing attacks by armed terrorists parading as herdsmen on communities in Kwande, Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas of Benue State to flush out the herdsmen, stop the killings, and restore normalcy to the affected communities.
“Heighten surveillance and invest in surveillance technology and equipment to detect and prevent future attacks; review the security architecture in the area to forestall the continuous attacks.”
