Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is to intervene in the lingering crisis between herdsmen and farmers in Benue as its ad hoc Committee on Security and Infrastructure has arrived in the State to meet with traditional rulers from affected local governments.

Revealing this mission at Benue People’s House, Makurdi today, leader of the Senate delegation and Majority Leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan conveyed the condolences of the Senate President and the 8th Senate to the people of Benue over the mass murder of innocent citizens of the state.

The Majority Leader revealed that the security apparatus of the country was not well structured, leaving room for the current security lapses that the nation is facing but noted that the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Security and Infrastructure was formed as a direct response to the challenge of incessant killings and would find a way of addressing the infrastructural deficits of affected communities.

Senator Lawan said the 9-man Senate Committee was in the state to review the crisis at hand and report back to the Senate on Tuesday 16th January, 2018 during plenary saying the primary duty of every government was the protection of lives and property.

The Senate Majority Leader said the Senate would not sit back to watch citizens of the nation perish adding that though the security agencies were doing their best, the Senate feels there were avoidable deficiencies, hence, the need to come out with a stronger security architecture for the nation and sued for cooperation to ensure the attack on Benue remained the last of such wickedness in Nigeria as no foreign or domestic investor would make progress where there are obvious security threats.

In his response, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom thanked the Senate President and the entire 8th Senate for taking this proactive step to intervene in the crisis that has lingered since 2011 and destroyed thousands of lives and billions property of the Benue citizenry.

Governor Ortom thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for responding to the cry of Benue by relocating the the Inspector General of Police to Benue and deploying more troops to ensure Benue Citizens have peace saying at least no more life has been lost in four days.

The Governor said his administration has sworn to rule with integrity and has done so much to bring peace by disarming youths that had possessed arms illegally.

The Benue Governor revealed that he was under threat from his people who were seeking to protect themselves against the invaders who have been attacking the state since 2011 without arrests save endless police investigations.

He maintained that population explosion has put pressure on land and it was impossible to allow the cohabitation of open grazing and farming and sued for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who threatened, masterminded and launched attacks on defenceless Benue citizens killing over 70 persons.

Also speaking, Senator Dr. George Akume, Senator Barnabas Gemade and former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Mike Aondokaa (SAN) called for workable measures that will end the crisis once and for all.

Politicsngr