Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Nigerian Senate has condemned the recent killings in the Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State and directed the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to immediately launch a comprehensive investigation.
The directive followed a motion on the escalating violence in parts of Plateau State, particularly in Kanam and Jos North LGAs, where scores of residents were reportedly killed by gunmen in March 2026.
The upper chamber mandated the police to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for the attacks, stressing that the perpetrators must face the full weight of the law.
It also resolved to dispatch a high-powered delegation led by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to the affected communities to sympathise with victims and residents.
In addition, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to mobilise relief materials to cushion the impact of the attacks on displaced and affected persons.
The resolutions followed a motion moved by Senator Diket Plang and co-sponsored by Senators Simon Lalong and Pam Dachungyan.
Presenting the motion, Plang lamented that Plateau State, once known as a hub of peace and tourism, has suffered repeated cycles of violence over the years.
He noted that the latest attacks — including the assault on Anguwan Rukuba on March 29 — were carried out against unsuspecting residents, many of whom were either returning from church or relaxing at home.
Describing the incident as coordinated and targeted at defenceless civilians, he warned that the persistent violence, often coloured by ethnic and religious tensions, is eroding the state’s long-standing reputation for peace.
The Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims, as Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, presided over proceedings and put the motion to a voice vote, which was unanimously adopted.
