The Senate on Thursday expressed grave concern at the incessant attacks by herdsmen across the country with a warning that, if the ugly trend was not nipped in the bud, it would turn out to be as deadly as Boko Haram insurgency.
The motion which was raised through matters of urgent National interest by Senator Chukwuka Utazi representing Enugu North Senatorial District, condemned unprovoked attacks on some communities in Enugu North on Monday where scores were left dead.
“Mr President, Distinguished Colleagues, you will recall that on Monday about the wee hours, Fulani herdsmen attacked and maimed the most vulnerable people in Uzo Uwani in Enugu North Senatorial District and I want the Senate to take action,” he submitted.
Reacting to the motion, Senator Isah Misau ‘(Bauchi Central) Senatorial District explained that the inadequate presence of the Nigeria Police in rural areas was an issue to be addressed if insecurity was to be tackled.
Misau said the number of Police officers cannot be less than one million to 170,000,000 people in accordance with the United Nations recommendation, while expressing regrets that Nigeria was far less.
As a follow up, Senator Shola Adeyeye, suggested that government should introduce community policing as a panacea to incessant killings, while also blaming governors of States for tampering with Local Government finances which he said, have not allowed effective operations of Council areas.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, it is high time government reverted to community Policing and part of the problem is State governor’s interference with Local Government Areas which should be closer to rural areas,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, in his contribution noted that some former governors have security experiences to share while suggesting that it was proper to be discussed at a closed door session.
In his remark, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, while expressing condolences to the bereaved, noted that the three arms of government should take responsibilities.
He added that through prayers, security agencies should beef up intelligence gathering for proactive measures, while directing National Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials to the afflicted communities.
The Senate also directed the Nigeria Police to establish rapid response Unit across the federation to stop and search herdsmen.
Part of the decision taken was the constitution of six-month committee with one each from the geopolitical zones of the country.
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