The Senate, on Wednesday, said it would meet with President Bola Tinubu over the insecurity in Benue State and Nigeria at large.
The resolution of the Senate followed the report of a militia clash in Benue State, which left no fewer than 30 dead on Tuesday.
The Senate resolution followed a motion titled: “Motion On the Continuing Killings by Suspected Terrorists Parading as Herdsmen and Increasing Insecurity in Kwande, Ukum, Logo And Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas in the Benue North-East Senatorial District Of Benue State.”
The motion was brought by Senator Emmanuel Udende, representing Benue North-East, under “Matters Of Urgent Public Importance Pursuant To Orders 41 And 51 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended).”
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Udende, in his lead debate, said that over 50 residents of the Logo and Katsina-Ala area of the state were killed by men who disguised as herders to unleash havoc on the communities.
The attack was said to have been perpetrated by rival militias led by the dreaded duo simply identified as ‘Full Fire’ and ‘Chain.’
One of the terrorist gang leaders was said to have hired the services of external bandits, invaded the Gbagir community in the Ukum LGA and engaged in a fight to oust another militia gang leader in the area.
It was gathered that most of the dead were members of the rival militia gangs, while about 12 innocent farmers were caught in the crossfire, which also left over 30 persons injured and many others declared missing.
A traditional ruler in the area, who spoke with our correspondent on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity, for fear of being a target, said the bloody fight started Tuesday morning after a Tiv militia leader in Ukum kidnapped another Fulani militia leader, identified as Alhaji Gana.
The monarch said, Gana was kidnapped alongside his family members, who were known for banditry and kidnappings by the rival gang from neighbouring Chinkai community in Wukari LGA of Taraba State.
He said, “After kidnapping them, he asked for N100m ransom but he was given N5m. After collecting the money, he killed the hostages.
“The murder of the hostages sparked outrage among his gang members in Taraba State. This happened over the weekend.
“What followed was that another militia gang leader in Ukum now went and joined forces with the Fulani militia gang in Taraba to help them eliminate the rival gang in Ukum that killed their leader, Alhaji Gana.
“From what we gathered, over 40 persons who were mainly bandits have been killed, though we have a record of about 12 farmers who were caught in the crossfire. Over 30 others were injured while some are also missing.
“Sadly caught in the crossfire was a family of seven in Tse Adzandeh Mbasaa, Mbajiga, Ityuluv, Torov. They were all members of the Adzandeh family,” the monarch said.
The lawmaker representing Ukum State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Nyiyongo Ezra, said about 20 people were killed.
He said, “For now, I cannot tell you the cause of the attack but the information I got was that about 20 people were killed.”
The Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke, Maj. Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, confirmed that 30 people were killed in the clash.
Fielding questions from journalists during a press conference held at the old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, the force commander said, “It was a clash between two militia groups resulting in deaths. We went there and for whatever reason they had the clash, I don’t know.
“But our initial visit revealed that 30 people were killed.”
30 killed in Benue fresh attack, Senate to meet Tinubu
