The Senate on Saturday, summoned heads of major security agencies in the country to brief it on the Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau State, which led to the death of over 100 people.
The attacks in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi, two local government areas in the North-Central state, also left many villagers, including women and children, wounded, while the homes of the victims were razed by suspected bandits.
Those summoned were the National Security Adviser; the Chief of Army Staff; the Director-General, Department of State Services; the Inspector-General of Police; and the DG, Nigeria Intelligence Agency.
The Senate passed the resolution following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Sen. Diiket Plang ((Plateau-Central) at the session, which was presided over by the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
The security chiefs are to meet with the Senate at a closed session on a date to be announced.
They are to explain how their personnel failed to halt the attacks, in spite of the presence of several conventional and community security outfits in the localities.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi State), while contributing to the debate, said he visited Plateau State immediately when he heard of the attacks to commiserate with the government and the people.
Ningi told his colleagues that he was amazed by what he heard from both the state governor, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, and other sources, about how the invaders easily moved into the villages, killing and maiming their victims.
“The question to ask is what happened to intelligence gathering? What happened to intelligence sharing among the security agencies?” he stated.
Ningi added that he was told the attackers were escorted into Bokkos by some locals, who had also kept weapons for them in identified locations.
According to him, over 1,500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are now scattered in parts of the state as a result of the attacks.
A former governor of the state, Senator Simon Lalong, also spoke of the failure of the military and other security agencies to prevent the attacks, despite having a presence in the areas where the attacks took place.
The motion to summon the security heads was moved by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo State). It was unanimously adopted by senators and added to the prayers of the resolution.
The Senate passed the following prayers.
“One-minute silence at plenary in honour of the victims.
“Send a high-powered delegation to Plateau state to condole with the Government and the good people of the State and also visit the victims.
“Urge 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 to relocate back to their homes and decongest the IDP camp.
“Urge the IGP to establish a mopol barrack situated at Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
“Urge the Chief of Defense Staff to establish a mobile military in Mangu LGA, which is a border point and an entry route for the criminals to commit crimes and escape freely.
“Urge the Nigerian Military to deploy intelligence and Aerial surveillance in the affected Local Governments of Plateau State and its environs
“Urge the minister of Solid Mineral Development to immediately take action in putting a check on illegal miners and mining activities in the country, especially in the affected regions
“Urge the Plateau State Government to strengthen the environmental mining laws to check the excesses of illegal miners in the State
“Urge the Plateau State Government to upscale dialogue between traditional rulers and religious leaders especially in the affected crisis areas using non-kinetic solutions to funding solutions to the crises
“Issues such other directives as may be expedient in the circumstance to ensure compliance with this resolution.
“That we should invite all the Service chiefs, DG of DSS, DG NIA and the NSA to brief the senate on what actually happened in Plateau on that eve of Christmas.”
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