Senate Steps down proceedings to honour 44 slain soldiers
...Orders committees to investigate cause of killings of 44 soldiers
Ranmilowo Ojalumo
The senate on Thursday stepped down all proceedings at the red chamber to honour the 44 soldiers that were murdered by Boko haram in Borno state last weekend.
AFP had reported on Tuesday that a Boko Haram splinter group invaded three military base at the weekend and killed at least 44 soldiers. According to the AFP report, out of the 44 soldiers, no fewer than 43 were killed on Sunday in Metele, a remote village near the Nigerian border with Niger.
While contributing to the debate, Senator Ahmad Lawan “we will be able to intervene properly by knowing what they will need, what type of equipment or property they need to fight safely. What kind of protection do they have? It is important that we pay surprise visits to them. Let us show these people that even if a soldier dies, his or her family will not suffer.”
On his part, Senator Joshua Lidani said “we need to do a lot more than we are doing now. We need to visit and show our support. We need to sympathize with them.”
Senator Biodun Olujimi in his contribution said “it is very sad that we have lost soldiers protecting us, that is just the official number and it may not be accurate. This shows that our priorities in this country are not in order.”
The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki stated that killing is something that affected every Nigerians; hence the red chamber observed a one-minute silence for those that lost their lives in the deadly attack.
The senate therefore resolved that the Senate Committee on Army will pay a condolence visit to the families of the deceased soldiers and the Chief of Army Staff.
The Senate also mandates the Committees on Defence and Army to investigate the cause of the killings of the 44 soldiers and to ensure that adequate measures are being taken to curb such killings of the military.
Also, the Senate resolved that a delegation of Senators will visit the soldiers on the battlefield. The Senate stepped down all proceedings of the Thursday plenary in honour of the soldiers that were killed and adjourned plenary till Tuesday 27th November, 2018.
