The Senate on Wednesday summoned the
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, for alleged non-compliance with
a directive by the lawmakers to arrest and prosecute the suspected herdsmen who
attacked communities in Benue State, killing 73 people.
Idris was asked to appear before the Senate
Committee on Police Affairs on Thursday (today) to explain why a resolution by
the upper chamber of the National Assembly asking him to arrest and prosecute
the suspects was not complied with.
The committee was asked to report to the Senate
on Tuesday, when the chamber would deliberate on the next line of action.
The Senate had, at the plenaries on January 16
and 17, 2018, debated killings by herdsmen and other armed groups across
Nigeria.
Part of the resolutions passed was for the police
boss to arrest and prosecute the suspects within 14 days.
The ultimatum expired on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Senator Joshua Lidani (Gombe-South)
reminded the lawmakers that the ultimatum had expired and the IG had yet to
prosecute any suspect.
Lidani said, “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 January 1, 2018.
“The Senate clearly resolved that the
Inspector-General of Police be given two weeks within which he should identify
and arrest those who perpetrated the killings in Benue.
“This resolution was passed and was transmitted
to the IG 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 will like the Senate President, in
line with this resolution, to compel the IG to appear before the Senate to
explain why he has not complied with the resolution of the Senate.”
The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki,
expressed displeasure with the police boss’ inaction.
Saraki said, “I think the integrity of the
institution must be taken seriously. I think the Senate Committees on Police
(Affairs); and Intelligence should summon the IG to come by tomorrow (Thursday)
to make an explanation on where we are on this two-week ultimatum. These two
committees should report to us by Tuesday.
“We must make it clear to security agencies that
ultimatums cannot be taken lightly. If they think we are just going to sweep
this thing under the carpet, the answer is definitely no.
“President Muhammadu Buhari said he told the IG
to ensure speedy prosecution and we have yet to see that. The IG knows that he
needs to take this seriously.”
The Senate had on January 15 passed resolutions,
including the ultimatum to Idris, when they adopted an interim report by the
House Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of Security Infrastructure of Nigeria.
Saraki had on the same day led the leadership of
the chamber to Buhari to deliver the resolutions personally.
We’re after killer herdsmen, Buhari tells
Senate
Buhari has, however, faulted the position of the
Senate that the Federal Government failed to address the killings by herdsmen.
In a letter, which the President of the Senate
read at the plenary on Wednesday, Buhari listed efforts made by him to end the
killings.
The letter was dated January 25, 2018, but
according to the stamp on it, it was received by the Office of the President of
the Senate on Tuesday.
It was titled, ‘Re: Report on the Review of
Security Infrastructure of Nigeria on the Emergency Visit to Benue.’
The letter read in part, “To infer that nothing
has been done is incorrect. The police are working to apprehend the culprits of
these heartless killings. Furthermore, I have instructed the Inspector-General
of Police to relocate to Benue State and deploy forces in the most sensitive
areas.
“The Federal Government is initiating additional
measures to address these and other security challenges, alleviate the
consequences of these attacks and forestall a recurrence.
“The Senate resolutions itemised in your letter
will be taken into consideration and I am instructing all relevant MDAs
(ministries, departments and agencies) to factor them in their work.”
Buhari stated in the letter that he agreed that
there was a need to review the security architecture of the country.
The President added, “On December 19, 2017, to be
precise, while receiving the report by the committee which I had set up to
review the operational, technical and administrative structure of the
National Intelligence Agency, I underscored the need to review the entire
national security architecture as I promised in my inaugural address on the
29th May 2015.
“Action is being initiated and I expect to
receive maximum cooperation from the Senate.”
According to the President, contrary to the
resolution of the Senate, the police were making “strenuous efforts” to restore
peace and security in Benue.
“Several courses of action have been taken prior
to the Senate resolution,” Buhari stated in the letter.
The President recalled that he sent the Minister
of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) and the Deputy Inspector General
of Police (Operations), Joshak Habila, for an on-the-spot assessment of the
situation, while he was briefed verbally by the IG that “calm had then been
restored.”
“On Monday, 8th January, the Minister of Interior
met with the following: Governors of Adamawa, Kaduna, Niger, Benue Taraba and
Nasarawa states, together with the Director General of the Department of State
Services, Inspector-General of Police; Commandant General, Civil Defence;
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Commissioners of Police of the
six aforementioned states and Comptrollers of Civil Defence from the six
aforementioned states.
“After the meeting, I instructed the Minister of
Interior to brief you (Saraki) on the information gathered so far and steps
taken. On Tuesday, 9th of January, I had a long session with Governor Samuel
Ortom of Benue State during which I informed him that police arrested some
suspects with Kalashnikovs (rifles). In addition, I told him that I have
instructed the IG to speed up trial and prosecution 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 January with a wide cross-section of
Benue personalities where frank and open discussions were held and everybody
appreciated the complexities and difficulties of this farmer-herder strife. I
assured all and sundry of my commitment to ensure that justice is expeditiously
done,” the letter added.
Buhari’s actions, window dressing
–Tiv youths
The President of the National Council of Tiv
Youths, Dr. John Akperashi, has described the steps that Buhari said he took on
killings by herdsmen as window dressing.
Akperashi, in an interview with The PUNCH
on Wednesday, warned that Nigeria was heading towards anarchy.
He said Buhari’s letter to the Senate was “at
best, window dressing.’’
He said, ‘‘President Buhari of course knows
exactly what decisive steps to take in taming this tide.
“He should put a permanent end to this
unjustifiable and inexcusable monstrosity of the Fulani mercenaries.”
He said Buhari’s procrastination over the
killings by the Fulani herdsmen had brought the President’s reputation to
public ridicule.
Akperashi said, “He needs to, as a matter
of fact, give all Nigerians the assurance of justice, equity and fair play by
ordering the immediate arrest and prosecution of the leadership of the Miyetti
Allah that have always come up boldly to claim responsibility for the unquantifiable
killings across the nation, giving excuses of their cows being rustled.”
Also a former Secretary of the Middle Belt
Conference, John Dara, faulted the President.
Dara, in an interview with our correspondents,
said Buhari’s response was half-hearted, adding that the President ought to
have visited the affected areas.
He stated, “The President’s response is too
little too late. We know that now that the days of electioneering are near,
there will be many half-hearted responses.”
According to him, the increasing menace of the
herdsmen, the justifications by the Miyetti Allah leadership and “the leading
figures of this government show that we are dealing with state-sanctioned
terrorism.”
Policemen kill herdsman in gun battle
The police in Nasarawa State on Wednesday
confirmed the death of a Fulani herdsman at Kadarko, in the Kiza development
area of the state.
This is coming barely a day after the state
Governor, Umaru Al-Makua, directed the deployment of the security men after he
visited Kadarko, where seven persons were killed by gunmen.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public
Relations Officer, DSP Idirisu Kennedy, said the herdsman was shot dead during
an exchange of gunfire with security men deployed to restore peace to Kadarko.
He said, “A team of mobile policemen gunned down
a Fulani herdsman during an exchange of gunfire. Some herdsmen had opened fire
on the team of policemen upon sighting them in Kadarko; but one of them was
gunned down.”
The police image maker added that investigation
was ongoing into the killing of some cattle and seven people in Kadarko, adding
that those found wanting would be arrested.
M’Belt, South unite against herdsmen
The Middle Belt is collaborating with the
southern part of Nigeria to arrest the menace of Fulani herdsmen and other
heinous killings in the country.
The Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr
Bala Takaya, who stated this on Thursday, added that the collaboration was to
make meaningful impact in the 2019 general elections.
Yahaya spoke during a one-day summit of the
Middle Belt in Jos, Plateau State, organised by the MBF with the theme,
‘Political and Security Situation of Middle Belt: The Need for Road map.’
He said, “The handshake across, especially with
South-South, South-East and South-West, is to address salient issues affecting
the zones. We are not standing aloof; we are working together in the struggle
for equitable Nigeria through restructuring.
“In the demonstration of the handshake, leaders
from the southern parts of the country were recently received by the leadership
of the Middle Belt in Benue State in solidarity with the people and government
of Benue State over the recent killings.”
Takaya, who said the youths in the Middle Belt had
not been active enough, added that there was the need for them to be more
proactive and defend their land.
The elder statesman said the Middle Belt was
vulnerable to attacks by herdsmen because its youths were not coordinated and
united, adding there was the need for synergy among them to arrest the attacks
on the geopolitical zone.
“Middle Belt youths must work together to
overcome these challenges,” Takaya added.
The National Youth Leader of the Middle Belt
Youth Forum, Emma Zopmal, said the killings in the region were unfortunate,
especially with the uncomfortable silence of the Federal Government.
Zopmal urged youths in the region to protect
themselves and their land.
The youth leader argued that state police was
inevitable, adding that states needed internal security to protect their land.
The keynote speaker and the MBF 2014 National
Conference delegate, John Dara, called for the unity of the Middle Belt and
support for all elected public office holders from the zone.
Dara told the youths that they should have a
Middle Belt frontier force to defend their region from unwarranted attacks.
