The Nigerian Senate has ordered the Inspector- General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, arrest all criminals parading themselves as herdsmen and killings people in communities and farmlands across the country.
The Senate in its Wednesday sitting specifically ordered the IGP to apprehend the killers of a welder Mr. Solomon Ejoh, who was allegedly killed by herdsmen at Ovre-Abraka, Delta State, on April 24, 2017, while trying to rescue his mother from their grip.
The Senate has also resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate killings by the terrorist who masquerade themselves as herdsmen across Nigeria.
The development came up as a point of order raised during yesterday’s plenary by the Senator representing Delta Senatorial District Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who recently decamped to the ruling All Progressive Congress APC from Labour Party as a matter of urgent public national importance.
According to the Delta state born Senator, the point of Order which was titled, “Need for urgent national security intervention to stop the gruesome killing of Urhobo and other Nigerians in Delta Central Senatorial District and other parts of the nation by terrorist elements masquerading as herdsmen in rural communities, forests and farms.”
The plenary season presided over by the Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu, condemned in totality the killings and waste of lives and property.
Senator Ekweremadu during the plenary said “Senate condemns the act, human life is sacred. We call on government at all levels to wake up to their responsibilities. We also call on security agencies to do their work,”
Presenting his motion, yesterday, Omo-Agege noted that “historically, rural dwellers in Urhoboland and other parts of this country have always lived in peace and harmony with themselves and citizens from other parts of this beautiful country, including traditional herdsmen, who are never armed with sophisticated war weapons and who go about their herding activities peacefully.”
He Further expressed worry “that against the letters and spirit of our constitution and without regards for the sanctity of human life and any justification whatsoever, Urhobo and, indeed, other Nigerians, are being gruesomely and extra-judicially killed in rural communities, forests, and farms by terrorist elements and hardened criminals who are armed with sophisticated war weapons and who masquerade as herdsmen.”
He urged the Senate to condemn the recent brutal killing of a young, vibrant, and popular youth leader, Solomon Ejoh, by terrorist elements/hardened criminals operating under the cover of herdsmen at Ovre-Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government of Delta State.
Omo-Agege also disclosed that the killing of Ejoh had generated pervasive anger across the Niger Delta, bringing pressure on the leaders of the region.
