By Fatima Saka
The Senate has launched an investigative assessment into recent violent attacks in Benue and Kwara States, mandating a joint delegation of lawmakers to visit affected communities and interface with victims, security agencies, and state authorities.
Speaking to journalists after a close door session on Tuesday in Abuja, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Mallam-Madori Abdulhamid (Jigawa North-East), said the mission is a direct directive from the Senate during plenary to uncover the root causes of the killings and recommend urgent security interventions.
He explained that four committees, Defence, Army, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence—held a joint session to assess the security situation and agreed on a fact-finding mission to the crisis zones.
“The Senate mandated us to go and assess what happened in Plateau and Kwara. In the case of Kwara, the Army is not involved, so three committees,Defence, Police, and National Security and Intelligence, will handle that. We agreed to visit the victims, sympathise with affected communities, examine what really happened and report back to the Senate,” Abdulhamid said.
He added that three members from each committee, along with their secretariat, will embark on the investigative visit to Benue and Kwara States.
The delegation will also meet with community leaders and state governments to develop strategies to prevent further violence.
When asked what prompted the Senate’s concern, the lawmaker said the situation had become too critical to rely on reports from a distance.
“This is an investigative assessment. If we go there, we will hear first-hand information from the people on the ground. Some of what you hear are speculations. A physical visit helps us know what really happened and how to prevent such occurrences,” he stated.
On whether relief materials or government aid would be part of their intervention, Abdulhamid said the Senate would communicate further actions after the fact-finding visit but noted, “Definitely there must be support for victims.”
He also dismissed fears that the recent change in military leadership could affect the outcome of the probe.
“The change in service chiefs will not affect anything. This is a constitutional duty. We are doing this on behalf of Nigerians, and security agencies are answerable to the Senate,” he said.
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The secretariat of the joint committee has already been directed to liaise with the Benue and Kwara State Governments to schedule the visits in the coming days.
The Senate is expected to debate the committee’s findings when lawmakers reconvene for plenary.
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