By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

ABUJA—WORRIED  by the security situation in Southern Kaduna State, following frequent attacks by herdsmen on communities in the area resulting in death and destruction of property, the Senate yesterday, summoned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, to appear before its relevant committees to explain plans to end the genocide.

The Senate also called on the Federal Government to set up a Military Strike Force in the Southern part of Kaduna State    as an interim measure and observed a minute silence for the repose of the souls of the deceased victims of the attacks.

This came as Senate President, Bukola Saraki, identified dialogue and cooperation as possible antidotes to ending the ongoing economic downturn in the country, saying any effort to end the recession must particularly require dialogue and cooperation from all leaders

The IGP is expected to meet with the Senate committee on Police Affairs, even as the outcome would be submitted to the Senate for further consideration and legislative action.

The resolutions of the Senate yesterday were sequel to a motion by Senator Danjuma La’ah (PDP, Kaduna South), co- sponsored by Senator Jonah Jang, PDP, Plateau North, titled,  Urgent need for declaration of Emergency over the Security Situation in    the Southern Kaduna.

Earlier in his presentation, Senator La’ah, who drew the attention of the senators to the under-reported killings, said there had been regular attacks by armed herdsmen, the latest being that of October 16, 2016, which resulted in several deaths, injuries and wanton destruction of properties worth billions of naira.

According to him, the armed herdsmen have occupied the displaced communities and are grazing their livestock freely.