The Senate has summoned the heads of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as well as the National Security Adviser (NSA) to appear before it over the Christmas Eve massacre on residents of 15 communities in Plateau State.
SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that gunmen believed to be Fulani herders invaded the communities and killed over 200 residents mainly women, children and elderly in what several people and groups had described as genocide.
The hoodlums also burnt down communities in a coordinated operation that reportedly lasted for an hour without challenge from any quarter.
However, the Senate which reconvened on Saturday afternoon to deliberate on the 2024 budget appropriation bill, summoned the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff, Hasan Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, as well as the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The summon followed a motion raised by Senator Adams Oshiomhole during plenary on Saturday.
Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial district, told the plenary the security Chiefs have to explain to the Senate on the failure intelligence, to nip the attacks in bud.
He stated that Nigerians were angry with them (Heads of security agencies), hence the need to invite the security chiefs to brief the Senate on the exact situation in a closed session.
The motion was seconded by Senator Sumaila Kawu.
The Senate lamented the incessant attacks by criminals on communities in Plateau State, raising the need for a National security summit.
The upper chamber delved into the debate on the killings in Plateau State in a motion moved by Senator Diket Plang.
After the debate, the Senate resolved to observe a minute silence in honour of the victims. The lawmakers also resolved to send a high-powered delegation led by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to visit and condole with the victims.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to direct its agencies to provide relief materials, especially building materials to the victims of the crisis with immediate effect, to enable them relocate back to their homes and decongest the internally displaced persons’ camps.
They also urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to complete the Mopol Barracks situated in Barkin Ladi local Government Area.
In an amended prayer, the Senate urged the Nigerian Military to deploy intelligence and aerial in the affected Local Government Areas of Plateau State and its environs.