Senator Abba Moro
By JOHN ONAH, Abuja –
The senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro PhD, on Wednesday lamented the worsening security situation in Benue State and expressed concern over the safety of elected representatives from the state.
Senator Moro disclosed this while contributing to a motion sponsored by the senator representing Benue North-West Senatorial District, Dr Titus Zam over the security situation in Gwer West that resulted in the burning down of his private residence by irate youths who were protesting unprovoked attacks on the people by suspected herders.
Senator Moro, in his contribution, said the continued silence and inaction of the state government had snowballed into attacks on elected representatives from the state by angry youths, stating that they had become endangered species.
“I stand here, on a very sad note, to lend my voice to the motion sponsored by my colleague, Senator Zam.
“The silence and inaction on the part of the government of Benue State is snowballing into the citizens resulting to attacking elected representatives and residents of the various communities under siege.
“It’s sad to note that rather than preserving lives and properties of the people, the Benue State governor, on occasions, had said that incidents that even amounted to loss of lives and properties were ‘mere skirmishes’ and, in most cases, no statement of condemnation is issued and no demonstration of empathy shown by the state government.
“As I speak now, those of us elected on the platform of this senate are endangered species because our communities think, and unfortunately very wrongly, that it’s our responsibility to provide security for them.
“These killings and vandalization of properties of people who the communities feel should be responsible for their security is one too many.
“I urge the senate, in this particular instance, to take very strong view of this situation, which is about citizens who have been frustrated by the criminal activities of herdsmen and taking it on fellow citizens, and it’s a very serious dimension to the current level of insecurity in the country, especially in Benue State.
“We owe it a responsibility to condemn these activities and to ensure we advise appropriately the various governments, especially Benue State, in this particular instance, to take appropriate steps to safeguard the lives and properties of the people,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his media aide, Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John.
Senator Moro extended his heartfelt sympathy to Senator Zam, the Gwer West paramount ruler and all the other persons in the affected community over the burning down of their properties and killing of their kinsmen. He prayed God to grant eternal rest to the souls of those killed and restore lasting peace in the land.
