SENATE PANEL STORMS BENUE, TO MEET ORTOM OVER KILLINGS
The Senate ad hoc committee on security is currently in Benue State on a fact-finding mission over the killings and destruction by herdsmen in the state.
A member of the committee, Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti-South), told our correspondent on the telephone on Friday that she was already in Benue State together with other members of the panel.
The lawmaker disclosed that the panel was billed to meet with Governor Samuel Ortom, Tor Tiv, security agencies, community leaders and other stakeholders on the matter on Saturday (today).
She informed our correspondent that the delegation was in the state to have a first-hand report on the attacks by herdsmen that have left 73 persons dead.
Olujimi said, “We are already in Benue State (as of 7 pm on Friday), we just arrived here. We are going to meet the people of Benue, we are going to meet the governor, we are going to meet the local government chairmen and the Tor Tiv, at least to have a first-hand information so that we can have an interim report ready for the Senate on Tuesday.”
The National Assembly had gone on recess for Christmas and New Year holidays and would resume plenary on Tuesday.
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, had on Wednesday recalled the committee from recess and directed them to “immediately” resume sitting and work through the weekend on the recent killings in Benue and Rivers states.
They were also given a target to ensure they have an interim report ready for the consideration of members by next week.
This directive was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday night by the Senate President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu.
Saraki, while responding to the situation in Benue State, maintained that the killings were clear indications that the security architecture in the country had “inherent faults and needs to be refurbished.”
