Senate Summons Service Chiefs Over Plateau Killings

The senate has summoned security chiefs in the country over killings in Plateau State.

LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that about 200 people have been killed in different attacks in some local governments areas of Plateau State.

The service chiefs summoned are the Chief of Army staff, Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Director General, Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi and  National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

This followed a motion sponsored by Senator Diket Plang (APC Plateau Central).

Plang said the killings were more than ethnic clashes, describing it as a horrible experience.

He said  the attacks 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 was unprecedented.

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Ningi, who has visited Plateau, said the killers were living among the indigenes and the guns were kept in locations and they go for them only when they want to carry out the dastardly acts.

While deliberating on 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.

“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 had come for President Bola Tinubu to show commitment as a leader and put a stop to it.

He said  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.

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, 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.