Benue Killings: Senate issues IGP 14-day ultimatum

The Senate on Tuesday gave the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, a 14-day ultimatum to arrest and investigate the perpetrators of Benue killings.

Idris, on Monday convened a peace meeting with governors and stakeholders from Benue and Nasarawa to address the disputes between the two states.

The meeting, which was meant to find a lasting solution to the incessant farmers/herdsmen clashes in the states was, however, postponed as the governors from the two states were not present.

The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the review of the current security infrastructure in Nigeria had on Friday visited Benue to ascertain the level of killings in the state.

The report was presented by Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, during plenary on Tuesday.

He said the recommendations of the committee included reexamining, revamping and reinventing the nation’s security architecture and infrastructure in order to ensure that no community or entity was left unsecured and unsafe.

Lawan, who is also the Senate Leader, said other recommendations are for the Senate to convene, as a matter of utmost urgency, a national security summit.

“The Federal Government should examine the deployment of security personnel in our rural communities and borders to ensure that no one gets in or out of the country without proper documentation and regular surveillance.

Senate President Bukola Saraki noted that the debate on the clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Benue and other states had shown that it was not religious-based.

“It was a breakdown of law and order in that part of the country,” he said.

“I commend my distinguished colleagues for their sincerity and patriotism during this debate. This killing is also a wakeup call for all of us to put all hands on deck to address this crisis.

“We want to see immediate action. One point raised here today is the issue of justice. Without justice we cannot see unity and that justice stands as one of our recommendations.

“In the next 14 days, the inspector-general of police must find the perpetrators, arrest them, and the attorney general of Benue state must prosecute them. That is the minimum requirement and it must happen.

“Our resolution is that some of our discussions here need to be conveyed to Mr. President. We appreciate his actions for calling us and giving us a brief on what has happened. Hence, we owe it to him to tell him what we have discussed and the seriousness with which we have taken the issue.

“It is a wakeup call for him and it is a wakeup call for us. It is a wake–up call for this government. We must address the issue of security. We cannot continue to allow this violence to keep going on from one state to another. Therefore, something needs to be done.”