Buhari Writes Senate, Says His Govt Is Working To End Benue Killings

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday wrote to the Senate, insisting that it is untrue to assume that his government has not done anything about the Benue State killings.

The President, in a letter read on Wednesday by Senate President Bukola Saraki at plenary, said the police are working strenuously to apprehend those behind the attacks and is working to put measures in place to forestall the reoccurrence of the killings in Benue and across the country.

According to him, “I thank you for your letter referenced NASS/8S/R/01/33 dated 18th January 2018 and carefully studied the resolutions and comments therein. As I briefed you and the RT. Hon speaker when we met, several courses of action have been taken prior to the senate resolution,” the President wrote.

“You may recall that I told you of the following steps taken as soon as the information came in to me about the Benue killings. One, on Thursday 4th January, I sent the minister of interior and the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of operations for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

“Two, on Friday 5th January, the inspector-general of police briefed me verbally on the latest situation, calm had then been restored.

“Three, on Monday 8th, the minister of interior met with the following, governors of Adamawa, Kaduna, Niger, Benue Taraba and Nasarawa together with the DG of the State Security Services, inspector-general of police, CG civil defence, minister of agriculture and rural development and police commissioner of the six aforementioned states.

“After the meeting instructed the minister of interior to brief you on the information gathered so far and steps taken. On Tuesday, 9th of January, at a session with governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state during which in informed of police arrests of some suspects. In addition, I told him that have instructed to speed up trial of the suspects and give wide publicity of the police efforts.

“At the instance of the governor, a meeting was held in the presidential villa on 15th with a wide cross-section of Benue personalities and frank and open discussions were held. Everybody appreciated the difficulties of this farmers-herders strife. I assured all of my commitment and assured justice would be done.

“To infer therefore that nothing has been done, is incorrect. The police are strenuously working to apprehend the rest of the culprits of these heartless killings.

“Furthermore, I have instructed the IGP to relocate to Benue state and redeploy forces to the most sensitive towns. The federal government is initiating measures to address these and other security challenges, alleviate the consequence of these attacks and forestall reoccurrence.

Meanwhile, the Senate has criticised Ibrahim Idris, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), over his failure to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of Benue killings following the expiration of the two-week ultimatum he was given to arrest and prosecute those behind the killings.

Moving the motion on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Joshua Lidani, Senator representing Gombe south, reminded the Senators of its January 8 resolution as part of recommendations made by the ad hoc Committee on security after it visited Benue as he argued that the IGP be summoned.

“Mr President you will recall that this senate passed a resolution when it was considering the report of the ad hoc committee on security which among other things visited Benue state regarding the killings that took place on or about 1st January 2018,” the Senator said.

“The senate clearly resolved that the inspector-general of police be given two weeks to which he should identify and arrest all those perpetrated the killings in Benue.

“This resolution was passed and was transmitted to the IGP but to the best of my knowledge no arrest has been made and no information has been brought to the senate as regards the resolution.

“I, therefore, would like the senate president in line with this resolution to compel IGP to appear before the senate to explain why he has not complied with the resolution of the senate.”

On his part, Senate President Bukola Saraki said security agencies should take ultimatums given to them seriously insisting that the upper legislative chamber would ensure that those behind the killings are made to account for their actions.

“I remember very clearly when we passed the ultimatum and it was of great concern by some of us that such resolution of this chamber must be taken seriously. And I think it goes beyond two-week ultimatum, I think the integrity of the institution must be taken seriously,” he said.

“I think the senate committees on police and intelligence should summon the IG to come before you by tomorrow to make an explanation on where we are on this two-week ultimatum. These two committees should report to us by Tuesday on where we are.

“We must make it clear to the security agencies that ultimatums cannot be taken lightly. If by Tuesday we are not happy with their report, we can take a decision to summon the IG.

“If they think we are just going to sweep this thing under the carpet the answer is definitely ‘no.’ We are not going to stop until people are made accounted – like the president said in his letter he has told the IG to ensure speedy prosecution and we are not seeing that. The IG knows that he needs to take this seriously.”