The Senate on Wednesday called for immediate deployment of security personnel to Akpachi-Ugboju, Otukpo-Nobi, Ondo Ugboju and surrounding communities in Benue State, following renewed attacks by suspected bandits which had claimed no fewer than 20 lives.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Abba Moro (PDP-Benue South) on the urgent need to stop the gruesome killings in the affected communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims of the attacks on Akpachi-Ugboju and Otukpo-Nobi as well as those who lost their lives in the fresh assault on Ondo Ugboju.
It urged the inspector-general of police, the chief of army staff and other relevant security agencies to immediately deploy a strong security presence to the affected communities to restore normalcy, protect lives and property, and prevent further attacks.
The upper chamber also mandated the inspector-general of police to conduct a thorough investigation into the attacks, apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that they were prosecuted to deter future incidents.
