Chairman of the Southern Senators Forum (SSF), Senator Hope Uzodimma, has frowned at the wanton loss of lives due to killings in Benue communities.

The Senator, who spoke to newsmen on behalf of SSF, also stated that politicians must always speak out on burning national issues to save the nation’s democracy.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for deploying the Inspector General of Police to Benue, saying that it was expedient on all politicians irrespective of their political leanings to speak out objectively on issues if national concern.

He declared that the SSF was pained by the threat to Nigeria’s democracy and the wanton killings around Benue.

He condemned the killings and sympathised with the families of the dead and people of the state.

The Senator urged security agencies to step up patrol in the affected communities and the border towns of the state to nip in the bud; a recurrence of the dastardly act.

Uzodimma, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for directing the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris Kpotum, to promptly take charge of security operations in the affected areas.

According to him, “Though the attack was painful as several lives were lost in gruesome manner, commentaries on the issue should be moderated to avoid the escalation of the already tensed situation and reprisal attacks.”

He stressing that “those blaming the President for not speaking out and accusing him (President) of backing the alleged perpetrators of the heinous crime are only fanning the embers of hatred and putting him on the spot.”

Uzodinma said the President had done what was constitutional right by ordering the deployment of the police, led by the Inspector-General to quell the situation as it is only the police that are statutorily empowered to take charge of affairs in such situations.

“It is regrettable that in this country, everything is heaped on the doors of the President whereas there are statutory organs and institutions that are responsible to handle every situation. When a person in this country has an issue with the judiciary or security agencies, the President is accused of having a hand in it. We must move away from this to make progress as a nation,” he cautioned.

“The attitude of our politicians on national issues must be that of unity and national interest because we should always have it at the back of our mind that it will be one person at a time,” he noted.

Uzodimma condemned those calling for the deployment of the military to Benue as the state was not in a war situation. “The Police are trained to handle civil matters. Calling for the deployment of the military will compound issues as they may intend to use maximum force which will not be good for the people,” he said.

The Senator urged security agencies to liaise with the Benue State Government and other relevant critical stakeholders in the state to identify the culprits and areas of challenges to put an end to the crisis.

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