… Those Killing Plateau people lives among them – Northern Senators
… Say weapons are kept somewhere until they want to carry out attacks
… Tinubu must show commitment to end killings – Sen Zam
The Senate has summoned security chiefs in the country over killings in Plateau State.
LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that about 200 people have been killed from different attacks in some Local Governments areas of Plateau state.
The Service Chiefs summoned by the Senate are: the Chief of Army staff, Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, as well as the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
This followed a motion sponsored by Sen Diket Plang (APC Plateau Central).
Plang said the killings are more than ethnic clashes describing it as a horrible experience.
Plang said the attacks on the communities were well coordinated without resistance.
Supporting the motion, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central) who is also the Chairman of Northern Senators Forum said the attack on Christmas Eve in plateau state was unprecedented.
Ningi, who had visited Plateau, said that the killers are living among the indigenes and the guns are kept in locations and go for them only when they want to carry out the dastardly acts.
But while deliberating the killings, Sen Adams Oshiomhole (APC Edo North) called for an additional prayer inviting the service chiefs.
Oshiomhole said the service chiefs must give adequate explanation on the inadequate intelligence that is leading to massive killings in the country especially in Plateau state.
“Nigerians are angry with them, hence the need to invite the security chiefs to brief the Senate on the exact situation in a closed session,” Oshiomhole said.
Senator Titus Zam from Benue state said the time has come for president Bola Tinubu to show his commitment as a leader and put a stop to it.
He said Bola Tinubu would do enough if he used the period of his government to stop the killings in the country, such as paying Nigerians more.
He said the security chiefs were not doing enough and needed to be summoned.
But the former governor of the state, Senator Simon Bako Lalong advocated for the empowering of traditional rulers and the establishment of North Central Development Commission to solving the incessant killings on the plateau.
In his contribution, senator Suleiman Kawu called for the senate to summon the Security chiefs to explain on the killings of the innocent Nigerians.
While a minute silence was observed in honour of the victims of the Plateau killings, the Senate also sent a high powered delegation to Plateau State to condole with the government and the people of the State and also visit the victims.
The Senate urged the executive through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NEMA to direct its agencies to provide relief materials to the victims of the crises with immediate effect to enable them relocate back to their homes and decongest the IDP camps.
The Senate which urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to establish a mopol Barrack situated at Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, also called on the Chief of Defense Staff to establish a mobile military in Magu LGA which is a border point, an entry root for the criminals to commit crime and escape freely.
“The Nigerian Military should deploy intelligence and Aerial surveillance in the affected Local Governments of Plateau State and its environs,” the Senate said while urging the minister of Solid Mineral Development to immediately take action in putting a check on illegal miners and mining activities in the country especially in the affected regions.
The Senate also urge the Plateau State Government to strengthen the environmental mining laws to check the excesses of illegal miners in the State
The lawmakers also urged the Plateau State Government to upscale dialogue between traditional rulers and religious leaders especially in the affected crises areas using non kinetic solutions to funding solutions to the crises.
“Issue such other directives as may be expedient in the circumstance to ensure compliance with this reclusion.
“We should invite all the Service chiefs, DG of DSS, DG NIA and the NSA to brief the senate on what actually happened in Plateau State on that eve of Christmas,” the Senate said.
