Insecurity: Again, Senate summons security chiefs

The Senate Wednesday summoned Security Chiefs to appear before it over spate of insecurity in some parts of the country.

It also called for urgent military intervention in Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state where Bandits recently killed four people on Monday March 10, 2025 which led to violent protest by residents the following day.

Re – summoning of the security chiefs by the Senate after earlier doing so on February 19, 2025 on alleged terrorism sponsorship by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), followed motion moved on recent killings in Benue state by Senator Titus Zam Tartenger (Benue North-West).

Specifically before debate on the motion, the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio said the Security Chiefs in the country, invited to appear before the Senate last month, had informed him that they will honour the invitation next week.

“This motion is very timely as questions on the banditry in Benue will be thrown at them apart from terrorism sponsorship by USAID as alleged by United States Congressman, Scott Perry.

“The Service Chiefs have informed me of their readiness to appear before us next week,” he said.

Recall that the Senate in the February 19th 2025 resolution it took on allegation against USAID based on motion sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South), summoned the National Security Adviser , Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Director – Generals of the Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), to appear before it behind closed doors for explanations on the allegation.

On the recent Benue Killings, the Senate as sought for , in the motion sponsored by Senator Titus Zam, called on the federal government to urgently deploy security forces to restore law and order in Gwer-West LGA of the state.

It also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to provide relief materials to affected communities just as it advised the Federal Government to collaborate with the Benue State Government to enforce the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

The red chamber also mandated its Committee on Agriculture to visit Gwer-West LGA for a first-hand assessment of the crisis, express sympathy to affected families, and expedite action on the Open Grazing Prohibition Bill for its quick passage into law.

Senator Zam in the motion said in the aftermath of the attack, local youths took to the streets in violent protests against what they described as the government’s failure to protect them.

He noted that the demonstration quickly escalated, leading to the burning of the Gwer-West LGA Secretariat, the palace of the paramount ruler, the private residence of Senator Zam Tartenger, and the homes of other prominent figures in the community.