The Senate made the call amid resolutions reached, sequel to the consideration of a motion brought to the floor by Senator Sam Egwu (PDP, Ebonyi North) during plenary on Wednesday.

Coming under order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules, Egwu, in the motion titled: “urgent need for the federal government’s intervention to end the serial killing of innocent and defenseless citizens in Ebonyi state by alleged herdsmen”, bemoaned the general state of insecurity in the country.

He expressed concern that, “the killing, maiming, kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives and property by herdsmen have now become the daily experience of citizens of innocent and defenceless people of Ebonyi state who are murdered in their numbers almost on weekly basis.”

“Aware that on 30th day of March, 2021, over 18 indigenes of Egedege, Obehi and Amuzu communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, including a priest, were gruesomely murdered in cold blood by rampaging herdsmen.

“Alarmed that on Monday the 12th day of April, 2021, alleged herdsmen/Agila people again invaded Otuebu, Igidi Obu and Ndiagu Ibe-Agba villages in Umuogudu Akpu community, Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State and gruesomely killed over 12 innocent indigenes, burnt/destroyed over 56 houses and kidnapped five persons.

“Concerned that if the federal government does not intervene urgently, these wicked and senseless killings, kidnapping and destruction of property may continue, thereby subjecting Ebonyians and other citizens in Ebonyi State to severe hardship and terrific fear,” Senator Egwu said.

In his contribution, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North) advocated for inter-agency interventions that would put a halt to herder killings across the country.

He said: “The most important part of our time spent here has always been about reportage of killings of our people in the hands of herdsmen.

“Mr. President, this is becoming very worrisome, that in a country which is under the rule of law, issues of these nature keep repeating themselves on a daily basis.

“Mr. President, I’m begging that, in order to solve this herder issue, we should make out time to have inter-agency meetings to sit down and see how we can return to these rules of engagement that can allow us do business without let or hindrance. With that, I say Mr. President, that something urgent has to be done.”

On his part, Senator Michael Nnachi (PDP, Ebonyi South) lamented the number of lives lost to communal clashes between communities and herdsmen killings.

According to him, the ceaseless killings had made citizens in Ebonyi State to live in fear of being attacked by herdsmen.

“As I’m talking to you, I got a call that nobody slept at Abakaliki in fear of the herdsmen attacking them last night, because they got signal that they were around. All of them ran into their houses.

“Mr. President, not to say much, the motion as heavily moved by Senator Egwu is heart-beating. I support this motion whole heartedly that something must be done to safeguard the lives of the people.

“Just less than three weeks over thirty-three people were killed by herdsmen; over seven hundred people killed by communal clashes between Benue, Effium and Ezza – which is part of Benue and Ebonyi.”

The Senate, accordingly, while observing a minute silence in honour of those killed by alleged herdsmen, condemned in the strongest terms the various attacks on communities in Ebonyi State which led to the destruction of lives and property.

The upper chamber, while urging the federal government and Ebonyi State government to put appropriate measures in place to forestall further attacks, requested the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to immediately intervene through the provision of relief materials to the families of the victims and displaced persons in affected communities.

It also directed the Nigerian Police and other relevant security agencies to carry out comprehensive investigation of the dastardly attacks and to promptly arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, as well as rescue kidnap victims that are still held captive.

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The senator spoke when he appeared before the six-man panel set up by the Senate to investigate him.

President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, set up the panel which is headed by Senator Sam Egwu (PDP-Ebonyi) on July 3.

Abbo who appeared before his colleagues at exactly 3.15 p.m., told them that the matter was already before the court, hence he would not make comments that could amount to prejudice of the court process.

He also refused to allow the clerk of the panel to put him on oath, as usual.

Drama started when he said that he had no business appearing and making comments about the alleged assault case anywhere.

He however said his presence was out of honour for his colleagues.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) who is also a member of the panel probing the alleged assault expressed displeasure over Abbo’s comment and insistence before the panel.

She said: “The Senate carefully selected members of this committee to hear your own side of the story which has gone viral.

“What we are doing here as a legislature is a position taken by the Senate to hear from you and others involved.

“This matter has affected the Senate as an institution and we have been mandated to investigate it.

“You can’t sit there on the other side and dictate the modalities and approach we follow to us as committee.

“We are trying to protect the Senate and hear from you, but we can also suspend you because of your attitude.”

At this point, Abbo flared up and said he won’t allow the committee to threaten him with suspension, having earlier informed it that the matter was before a court.

“Dear colleagues, I won’t sit here and allow this committee to threaten me with suspension.

“Is it out of place for me to say I’m not addressing you since this matter is before a court of law of competent jurisdiction?

“I came here to honour you as colleagues after receiving an SMS inviting me here.

“Just the same way I have received SMS from the police. I was arrested, detained and charged to court over this matter. Yet, I’m here out of respect for you as colleagues.

“I want you to remember that this matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction and I don’t want to go to contempt of the Court,” he said.

After some arguments which threw the venue into a little rowdiness, the chairman urged all parties to remain calm.

Another member of the panel, Senator Mathew Urhoghide (APC-Edo) urged his colleagues to hear Abbo off camera.

Then, the chairman of the panel said though the matter was already in the public domain, excused members of the press out of the venue.

Egwu added: “We are not here to go into the area of the matter that is already in court.

“We are here to look at issues that affect us as a parliament in the eyes of the public.”

Earlier, counsel to the victim of the alleged assault, had sent a team of lawyers led by Mr Chukwuma Okoroafor to submit a letter before the panel.

Okoroafor said the victim was taking medical treatments in an undisclosed hospital in Abuja, hence her inability to appear in person.

The panel, however, insisted that he should present the victim within the next one week to allow it submit its report to the Senate.

Okoroafor who brought the letter from Solola & Co, however refused to speak with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, correspondents after leaving the venue of the meeting.

The committee has two weeks to finish its assignment, as the committee continues its hearing on Wednesday. Source:  NAN

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