The Senate yesterday unanimously opposed the inclusion of Taraba among the states requiring special attention as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The resolution was taken when a motion tagged, “ Urgent need to flush out Boko Haram insurgents reassembling in Taraba and halt the ongoing silent genocide in the state”  by Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP, Taraba South).

Moving the motion, Bwacha expressed concern that insurgents fleeing military onslaught were relocating to Taraba State where a notorious Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Sokoto, was recently arrested.

He said after relocating to Taraba, the insurgents changed tactics and were parading as herdsmen.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Abubakar Kyari(APC, Borno North) said the motion may lead to stereotype.

“The motion may lead to stereotype, nobody wants insurgency and when people are relocating from a place to another as a result of insurgency, what we need to do is to intensify intelligence gathering to understand those who are unfriendly and those who are in for their livelihood, “ he said.

Also contributing, Senator Barnabas Gemade (APC, Benue) said  there was need to separate criminality from genuine struggle for economic empowerment.

The senate called on its relevant committees to visit the affected states and  IDP camps to ascertain the gravity of the activities of insurgents.

Credit: dailytrust