The Senate on Saturday summoned the country’s heads of security agencies over the gruesome killings of more than 100 persons on Christmas eve in Plateau State.
The lawmakers expressed anger that the coordinated nature of the attacks and eventual massacre of innocent citizens by the marauding bandits indicated an obvious failure of security intelligence.
Arising from a motion by Senator Diket Plang of the All Progressives Congress (APC – Plateau) during Saturday’s plenary, the Senate decided to invite the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Air Staff, Director-General of State Security Services (DSS), National Security Adviser (NSA), Director General of Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) over the killings.
According to the Upper Legislative Chamber, the security chiefs are expected to brief them on the unfortunate incident in Plateau State to enable the parliament take further action on the matter.
In his intervention, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi), who chairs the Northern Senators’ Forum, described the attack as unprecedented.
He said his findings after spending about 72 hours in Plateau State and engaging with the State’s governor, showed the attackers, in collaboration with some of the locals, carried out the attacks in a well-coordinated manner.
The lawmaker said it was quite unfortunate that the criminals, numbering about 400, operated freely without any hindrance, accusing the security agencies of failing to act promptly despite prior information at their disposal before the attack took place.
Furthermore, Senator Ningi lamented that there was no synergy among the security agencies, describing it as a most regrettable development that continues to thwart efforts at effectively tackling insecurity in the country.
Also speaking on the incident, immediate past Governor of Plateau, Senator Simon Lalong, debunked claims by the military that the terrain was difficult to access and the communities invaded by the bandits were too distant from military formations.
He said it was disappointing that notwithstanding the various military operations, including Operation Safe Haven, meant to maintain peace and security in the state, innocent lives are still being wasted in the most gruesome manner by criminal elements.
So far, available reports showed that not less than 150 persons were killed and many others injured in bandits’ attacks on 23 villages in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas of the State.
The attacks, which also saw property and farmlands destroyed, reportedly took place from Saturday night and lasted for several hours without any form of intervention by the security agencies.
