The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the decision of the Senate to summon President Muhammadu Buhari over rising spate of insecurity in the country.
The party said in a Thursday statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan that the invitation aligned with the expectations of Nigerians who were tired of the prevailing situation.
The statement read in part, “President Buhari has roundly failed in his oath of office and allegiance and must not be allowed to hide behind the service chiefs for his failures.
“Nigerians are eager to know why the Buhari administration is insensitive to their plight and why it has refused to take decisive steps to end the ceaseless killing and daily pillaging of citizens by insurgents and marauders.”
Meanwhile, the Senate had resolved to summon the president to appear before a joint session of the National Assembly after a motion on the killings of 17 persons, including two Catholic priests, in Benue by suspected herdsmen earlier in the week.
The House of Representatives had also summoned the president over the security challenges in the country.
In his motion on “Continued Killings in Benue”, Sen. George Akume (APC – Benue North West) decried the unabating wanton destruction of lives and property in his state.
He said, “The Senate notes with dismay the continued killings , maiming and wanton destruction of lives and property in Benue State , particularly Benue North- West Senatorial District which comprises seven local government areas. ”
The lawmaker said that since January 2018 when 73 persons were killed in Guma and Logo LGAs, the intensity of the killings has increased, prompting the Federal Government to deploy the Nigerian Army in the Operation Ayem A ’ Kpatuma.
“The Senate notes that this exercise was intended to curb the killings and destruction in Benue , Nasarawa , Taraba and Kogi states ; and dismayed that despite the military presence , there is no end to the wanton killings.
“The Senate notes that just recently in Abian , headquarters of Sengev council ward near Naka town in the Gwer West LGA , there was an invasion by armed men where 18 people were killed in addition to burning of houses , destruction of properties in the Mbawaa Saghev in the Guma LGA;
“The Senate further notes that on the morning of Tuesday , April 24, 2018 , while some Christian faithful were gathered at St . Ignatius Catholic Church in Ayar town in the Gwer East LGA for morning Mass and burial , they were ambushed by gunmen who opened fire on them , resulting in the deaths of two reverend fathers namely ; Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha ; a catechist, John Ibor; and 17 others.”