Senate Condemns Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa, Seeks Action on Killing of Retired General
Senate Condemns Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa, Seeks Action on Killing of Retired General
Senate Condemns Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa, Seeks Action on Killing of Retired General
The Senate on Tuesday resumed plenary after a short recess, adopting key motions on the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa and the rising cases of abduction and killing of serving and retired military personnel.
The first motion, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, focused on the ongoing attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. Lawmakers unanimously condemned the alleged killings and assaults on Nigerian citizens, describing the attacks as inhuman and unacceptable.
Presiding over the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to conclude its investigation and submit its report within two weeks to enable the Senate take further legislative action.
Akpabio said the continued attacks on Nigerians in South Africa were unacceptable, urging the South African Government to take decisive measures to end the violence while commending the Federal Government for engaging on the issue.
The Senate also considered a motion sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua on the increasing abduction and killing of serving and retired military personnel by armed criminal groups.
The motion highlighted the killing of retired General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted alongside his wife in May and reportedly died in captivity on June 15.
During deliberations, Akpabio described the murder of the retired military officer as tragic and called on security agencies to ensure those responsible are identified and prosecuted.
The Senate commended the Armed Forces for their sacrifices in defending the country’s territorial integrity and expressed condolences to the family of the late General Abubakar and other fallen service personnel.
Meanwhile, five bills scaled first reading during the plenary.
The Senate also passed two bills for second reading. They include a bill seeking to amend the University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstitution of Boards) Act, 2004, to establish the Federal University of Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital in Kachia, Kaduna State, and another bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the Public Complaints Commission Act to strengthen the commission as an independent national ombudsman institution.
Both bills were referred to the relevant Senate committees for further legislative consideration.
Senate Condemns Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa, Seeks Action on Killing of Retired General
