Senate suspends plenary over killings across states, to hold security summit

The Senate has resolved to suspend plenary session for Wednesday and Thursday next week for the purpose of holding a national summit on rising insecurity across Nigeria.

The decision of the senate was sequel to a motion sponsored by Shuaibu Lau, senator representing Taraba north, who drew attention to the activities of herdsmen in his state.

The lawmakers had on Tuesday decided to hold a conference after they had approved a report of an ad hoc committee on security that visited Benue state over the killings perpetrated by herdsmen.

Many senators who spoke on the motion claimed that armed Fulani herdsmen are members of Boko Haram terrorists group who flew from the North East.

The report by the committee noted that the proliferation of arms in the country worsened the clash between the herders and farmers.

It said in most of the affected areas in Benue, there was little or no presence of security agencies.

“The senate condemns in the strongest possible terms the wanton criminal attacks that claimed the lives in Guma and Logo of Benue state,” the recommendations of the report read.

“The senate urges the security/intelligence agencies to leave no stone unturned in apprehending the perpetrators of these heinous crimes so they are brought before the law to answer for their crimes.

“The federal government should reexamine, revolve and reinvent the nation’s security architecture and infrastructure to ensure that no community or entity is left unsafe.

“The senate should convene as a matter of utmost urgency a national security summit to examine the recurring violence and mayhem visited on our rural communities before it becomes a threat to our national survival.