Sen. Abba Moro, the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, has on Tuesday sponsored a bill for urgent attention to tackle the incessant attacks on Benue communities, especially, the Benue south. Therefore called on the senate for speedy intervention.
The motion, which was joined by similar motions by other senators and presented by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele sought an end to insecurity plaguing the nation.
Senator Moro, in his motion decried the persistent attacks on his constituents by armed men suspected to be bandits and without a single arrest by security operatives. He mentioned the Thursday January 18, 2024 unprovoked and ruthless attack on Okokolo, Abuge and Ocholonya communities of Agatu Local Government Area, which left in its wakes loss of many lives and wanton destruction of several means of livelihood worth hundreds of millions of naira.
“The Senate;
“Notes with sadness recurring terror attacks on farmers and natives of the Benue South Senatorial District over the years by men suspected to be bandits without a suspect arrested by relevant agencies or security operatives;
“Notes with deep worry that on Thursday January 18th 2024, there was an unprovoked and ruthless attack on Okokolo, Abuge, Ocholonya communities of Agatu Local Government Area in Benue South Senatorial District leaving in their wakes loss of many lives and wanton destruction of several means of livelihood worth hundreds of millions of naira;
“Notes with deep regrets that the onslaught of 18 January, 2024 claimed the lives of three valiant security operatives deployed to safeguard the communities amidst the crisis and sadly, they were killed in the most horrible manner by these assailants;
“Notes with utter despair that Ogwumogbo is currently occupied by the bandits;
“Pained that as at today survivors of the attacks in Ogwumogbo, Ogbayi and Okpokpolo communities have in their numbers been displaced from their ancestral homes, finding refuge in Internally Displaced Person’s Camps around the Senatorial District and the bandits have taken over and occupied the communities;
“Concerned that more attacks and or possible counter attacks could take place;
“SENATE ACCORDINGLY RESOLVES TO;
“1. Urge the Nigeria Police and other relevant Security agencies to immediately move in to prevent further attacks and carry out a full-scale investigation of these heinous attacks with a view to arresting and bringing to book the perpetrators;
“2. Urge the Federal Government of Nigeria, through it’s agencies to as a matter of urgency mount a comprehensive surveillance at the affected areas to proactively forestall future attacks;
“3. Further urge the National Emergency Management Agency to quickly mobilize relief and rehabilitation materials to those many persons displaced by these recent attacks in Okokolo, Abuge, Ocholonya, Ogwumogbo, Ogbayi and Okpokpolo communities in Agatu Local Government Area of the Senatorial District.
“4. Urge the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, mobilize and set up a Forward Operating Base ( FOB) in Okokolo community for peace keeping until normalcy is restored to the area;
“5. Finally observe one minute silence in honor of those who lost their lives in the attacks on the communities.
“I so move Mr. President.”
In his comment, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio thanked Senator Moro and the other senators who joined in the sponsorship of the motion for bringing the insecurity situation in the country to the floor of the Senate.
He condemned the attacks in parts of the country, the rising kidnapping and banditry cases across the country and called for urgent actions by all stakeholders to stem the tides.
The Senate President averred that the National Assembly had the responsibility to collaborate with the Executives to contribute their ideas to ensure that Nigerians sleep with their two eyes closed.
Stressing that security is everybody’s business and that without security the country would not make progress.
“In this 10th Senate, working with our colleagues in the House of Representatives, we are determined to make laws, resolutions and oversights aimed at ensuring rapid progress of the country and immediate improvement of the economy of Nigeria. This will not be possible without a secured nation.
“We will take this up with the President and Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces, but that will be after an inquisitive session with all the Service Chiefs,” Akpabio maintained.
Therefore, urged the Clerk of the Senate to fix a day next week for the inquisitive session either in batches or individually while a one-minute silence was observed in honour of all those who lost their lives in the various attacks and kidnap cases in the country.
