Senate President Godswill Akpabio has lamented the unabated killings in Benue State, wondering why the Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, failed to speak up on the unfortunate development.
Following deliberations, the Senate asked the security agencies to deploy more personnel to address “the ongoing attacks,” while resolving that its leadership would meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the killings.
Akpabio expressed surprise at Alia’s apparent silence during Wednesday’s plenary while ruling on a Motion by the Senator representing Benue North East Senatorial District, Emmanuel Udende (PDP).
Udende, in his motion, expressed deepest sadness that no fewer than 50 persons had 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.
Speaking on the floor of the legislative chamber on Wednesday, Udende said the gunmen “parading as herders” attacked the communities.
He reported: “No fewer than 50 persons have been killed in fresh attacks on several communities in Logo, Katsina-Ala LGAs of Benue state by terrorists parading as herdsmen.
“The affected communities, some of them, were recently attacked as of yesterday (Tuesday).
“The residents of the villages found themselves targeted on a daily basis by heavily armed terrorists and the toll is staggering as they bear the brunt.
“The perpetrators have remained elusive.”
Contributing to the debate on the motion, Abba Moro, Senator representing Benue South, said the compliance committee of the upper legislative chamber should ensure that the resolutions of the Red Chamber were implemented.
“I think the time has come – the prayers are the same all the time – urge security chiefs, urge NEMA and all that and it has not yielded the desired results. We need to be proactive on this matter,” Moro said.
“In the Ninth Senate, an ad hoc committee was set up to review the security architecture, which was done, but unfortunately the recommendations were not implemented.
“Some of these bandits hideout in forests, the mystery is why we have not been able to pick them from these forests.
“Let’s ask our compliance committee to ensure resolutions are implemented.”
