President Buhari yesterday has, 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.
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