Security
Plateau Killings: Senate Summons Service Chiefs
… 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.
A student of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) has been abducted by unidentified gunmen following an off-campus hostel attack.
Channels reports that the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Istijaba Villa in Unguwar Jeji area of the state.
Witness accounts said five armed men entered the hostel to demand money from students who were taking a walk outside.
But the students refused to give in to their demands, which led to an assault from the attackers.
A resident, who was said to have attempted intervention, was shot dead while a final-year student of economics, simply identified as Madubiya, was whisked away by the assailants.
Responding to the incident, Muhammad Zaiyan-Umar, the vice-chancellor of FUBK, visited the scene in the company of the officers from the Kalgo police division and Department of State Services (DSS).
Addressing the students, Zaiyan-Umar said the university is committed to ensuring their safety and security.
It is understood that the VC has communicated the incident to Nasir Idris, the governor of Kebbi state, through the secretary to the state government and the director of security services at the cabinet office.
As of this reporting, the Kebbi state police command has yet to respond to enquiries about the incident.
In 2021, rumours soared of a planned attack by bandits after a heavy security presence was observed on campus.
At the time, the management of FUBK dismissed the claims.
The National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has expressed the Federal Government’s determination in finding a lasting solution to the incessant attacks and killings in Plateau State.
Speaking at Operation Safe Haven headquarters in Jos during an operational visit in the aftermath of attacks in some communities of the Bokkos Local Government Area LGA) of the state, Ribadu promised to end the killings.
Over fifty persons were killed within a week in attacks over five communities that left over three hundred houses burnt by suspected herdsmen.
The Plateau State Government, through the Secretary to the Government Samuel Jatau, also visited some of the affected communities to ascertain the extent of damages and also donate relief materials to affected victims.
Adu expressed the Federal Government’s determination in finding solutions to the incessant attacks and killings.
Also, speaking about the killings, the District Head of Manguna wants the government to provide more security personnel in the affected communities to curb rural-urban migration.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed sadness over the recent frightening attacks by terror groups on defenseless communities in Plateau State, which resulted in the tragic deaths of several people, including children.
The forum calls on the federal government to be constitutionally responsible for the protection of the lives and properties of citizens. It said this will ensure that such renewed attacks and killings on the Plateau and other communities in the Northern region and other parts of the country are stopped immediately.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, it asked the Federal Government to declare a state of security emergency on vulnerable and banditry-prone communities and to initiate effective early-warning and early-response strategies that incorporate the participation of community members.
“ACF reiterates its long-standing stance that every new such experience is one too many. Clearly, the people are in great pain, with their situation compounded by existential economic challenges. The killing spree on the Plateau must be stopped immediately, and peace must return to the State,” it said.
It also called on intensified efforts in actionable intelligence gathering, processing, and deployment by all relevant security agencies to establish the immediate and remote causes of the latest skirmishes, as well as for security agencies to investigate, identify, arrest, and prosecute perpetrators and enablers of the attacks.
Furthermore, ACF demanded full compensation for the victims of the attack and the extension of relief to those injured by the attackers.
“ACF deeply mourns the dead and unequivocally condemns the attacks. The Forum particularly extends sympathy and condolence to the affected communities, the Government, and the people of Plateau State,” part of the statement read.
“The Forum identifies with the deep pains of families of the victims, prays to God to grant the deceased eternal rest, for surviving victims to be fortified with strength to bear the losses and for quick return to full health for all who suffered injuries.”
It also asked the Federal Government and the Plateau State Government to empower community leaders, elders, clergy, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to embark on community dialogue for conflict resolution, reconciliation, and cooperation.
“Citizens should avail the security agencies with credible information on the activities of insurgents and criminals; and members of the National Assembly to do more to hold the FGN and the national security agencies to account and to demand concrete evidence of a firm resolve to exterminate the current terror on citizens,” the statement added.