Senator on Baga Killings
By Adamu Sambo
The Senate has mandated its standing committees on Defence and Army, Police Affairs as well as National Security and Intelligence to undertake full scale investigations into the mass killings and destruction of houses in Baga town of Borno state. This followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by Senator Maina Ma’aji Lawan on the matter which he described as outrageous and intolerable.
On the killings in Baga, Senator Maina Ma’aji Lawan had told the Senate that about 200 lives were lost and over 2000 houses and other valuable properties destroyed. The lawmaker could not however say whether it was Multi-National forces, Joint Task Force of the insurgents that carried out the atrocities. Apart from condemning the dastardly act and observing a minute of silence honoring the innocent lives lost, the Senate promised to set to get to the root of the matter within 14 days.
The Senate received two letters of request from President Goodluck Jonathan. President Jonathan’s letters read by Senate President David Mark are seeking confirmation of his nominees – Michael Ebong, Uwasomba Udochukwu, Emmanuel Ibitolo, Ismail Mohammed Aukku and Adeboji Olaoba-Efuntayo as members of the EFCC. Others are Fatima Kwaku and Olumuyiwa Akinboro as Members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
Another motion by Senator Atai Aidako Ali on the communal clash between Ochenwo and Odeke communities in Ibaja Kogi State and Enugu – Otu Aguleri Anambra State where 6 people died over oil resources was deferred. Senators from Kogi, Anambra and Enugu States have therefore been asked to confer among themselves and wade into the crises toward finding a lasting solution and if need be re present the motion jointly for consideration.
In the meantime, the report of the Conference Committee on the establishment of 10 Federal Universities in the Coutnry submitted by Senator Uche Chukumaije had been adopted. The Universities are: Dutsin-ma, Kashere, Lafia, Lokoja, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Otroke, Oye-Ekiti, Dutse Wukari and Uyo.
The Senate resumes plenary on Wednesday.
