The growing spate of insecurity across Nigeria , particularly Benue state is fast attaining an alarming proportion.>>>CONTINUE FULL READING HERE....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
Benue state , particularly the Benue North East Senatorial zone has known no-peace despite legislative interventions, peace talks and pacifications initiated by the lawmaker representing this senatorial zone that produces over 50 percent of different farm products that rightly places the state as food basket of Nigeria .
The disturbing percentage of the growing food inflation in Nigeria cannot be divorced from the killings and displacement of farmers in the Benue North East.
The Bureau for Statistics has put the food inflation in Nigeria at about 40 percent just as the United Nations has alerted that over 80 million Nigerians might go hungry in the next few years should the current situation persists unabated .
While the carnage continues, the senator representing the zone, Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende first, applied the legislative option through a motion drawing attention to the killings of about 50 members of his senatorial district within 48 hours.
This landmark motion resulted into consolidation of several similar motions on insecurity by the 10th Senate for onward transmision to the Presidency for immediate actions .>>>CONTINUE FULL READING HERE
In a spectacular delivery , the lawmaker stated his deepest sadness that “no fewer than 50 persons have been killed in fresh attacks on several communities in Kwande, Ukum, Logo and Katsina Ala Local Government Areas of Benue State by terrorist parading as herdsmen”.
According to him the affected communities some of which were attacked on 5th March, 2024 which included Tyuluv, Borikyo, Kundav, Ugbaam, Uyam, Udedeku, Yaaiwa, Nyihemba, Tomatar , Menakwagh , Yiase and Agura all in the Benue North East Senatorial district of Benue State.
He painted a gory picture of villages and communities being targeted on a daily basis by heavily armed terrorist herdsmen as the toll continues to get staggering as his people bear the brunt with reports of marauders butchering several villagers, leaving many homes completely burnt down and numerous residents still missing while the perpetrators, however, remain elusive and were never apprehended by security operatives since the killings began.
He expressed sadness that the pathetic situation and development had inflicted untold hardship on women, children and the elderly, who were forced to trekking long distances in search of safety and awaiting the intervention of security operatives which remained an honest wish.
Aside the peace talks initiated , the senator rolled out series of palliatives measures to cushion the raising effects of the aftermaths of these attacks according to his Media Adviser , Jerry Iorngaem.
Mr Iorngaem pointed out that the lawmaker had consistently raised the alarm about the negative economic lives of the people and the resultant effect of shortage of farm produce that has today given rise to the astronomical rise in the prices of agricultural produce and inflation across Nigeria .
Suffice to say that the utmost concern of and, the purpose of government is the security and safety of lives and properties in line with Section 14 (2) b of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,therefore, the galloping spate of killings in the Benue North East requires a
deployment of security personnel to address these attacks by armed terrorist parading as herdsmen on communities in affected areas of Kwande, Ukum, Logo and Katsina Ala Local Government Areas of Benue State with a view to flushing out the herdsmen, stop the killings and restore normalcy to the affected communities so as to allow the people go about there lawful daily activities.
While it is important to stress the need to heighten surveillance and invest in surveillance technology and equipment to detect and prevent future attacks, the political gladiators, traditional institutions and ordinary citizens must roll there sleeves to confront this ugly situation for the benefit of all and future of the state in general .
But while the Executive arm of the government is yet take measures as the killings have continued, the Benue State Government threw a jab at the Senator’s well measured parliamentary intervention on the Benue North East killings.
Governor Hyacinth Alia was quoted as saying “the person that went out there to cry wolf has to come back and answer to his traditional rulers ,tender apologies to me as the governor of the state and then to the entire people of the state”
He further alleges that some citizens of Benue state had invited gunmen from other countries with the aim to destabilize his government. This created some sense of confusion in what should ordinary attract concerted efforts to tackle rather than what could pass for a blame game .
But concerned at the degree of this menace virtually in efy part of Nigeria , the lawmaker took a holistic approach by sponsoring a Bill for amendment of the Terrorism, Prevention and Prohibition Act (2022).
The amendment will give domestic designation of a person, organisation or entity as terrorist, terrorist organisation or terrorist financier immediate effect in Nigeria.
The Act, when amended will guarantee compliance standard of the international bodies responsible for the fight against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.
Senator Udende took his interventions further by also sponsoring another bill that seeks to eliminate terrorism financing through the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal matters Act of 2018.
In his lead debate, Senator Udende explained that the Act, when amended, will enable Nigeria exit the Grey List through International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) mechanism.
It seeks to amend
Section 3 of the Act “to allow Mutual Legal Assistance, if the underline offence is criminalised by both Nigeria and requesting state, regardless of whether Nigeria and the requesting state place the offence within the same category of offence or denote the offence by the same terminology, provided the conduct underline the offence is criminalised by both Nigeria and the requesting state”.
” Section 17 is amended to improve the new subsection 5 to define without delay, within the context of Section 17 (5). For the purpose of this section, without delay means a period not more than 60 days,” .
But just a few weeks the zone again, came under heavy attacks that triggered a spontaneous reaction of the angry youths who expressed disappointment at Governments inability to restore peace in the area and demonstrate empathy for the victims .
Properties were destroyed, the rampaging youths spared no-one , the residence of the senator was equally a target, which underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts.
But in his response the lawmaker called for calm and urged everyone not to resort to self help.
While condemning the attacks on Ayati, Borikyo Council ward in Ukum Local Government Area and wanton destruction of properties in Sankera, Zaki-Biam and it’s environs.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes equally called on the angry people of Ukum to sheath their sword on the destruction spree witnessed in the last 48 hours, stressing that such actions will not provide any solution.
He notes that the incessant killings have reached an alarming degree and that security operatives must step in to save the lives of the people and their properties.
Senator Udende expresses sadness that despite concerted efforts including his motion on the same subject matter that gave rise to consolidation of many similar motions forwarded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for implementation of a lasting solution, the killings have remained unabated.
While consoling the families of the deceased, the lawmaker reassured his constituent’s that he will continue to draw attention of the Federal Government to this barbaric acts of taking lives at will and ensure that adequate measures are put in place to forestall further occurrences.
It is important to note that unless all hands are on the deck the crisis in the zone will continue to grow.
It is pertinent that rather than trade blames , as equally posited by the lawmaker , it was time to close ranks and address the hidra headed killings of innocent people and destruction of farmlands and properties that will ultimately compound the growing food crisis and further plunge the entire state into a state of squalor as well as provide incentives to further economic hardship on the people.
The Benue North East crisis is clearly a recipe for severe hunger , cascading poverty and breathtaking backwardness giving it’s strategic position as the food hub of the state>>>CONTINUE FULL READING HERE
