The Nigerian Senate has voiced its frustration over the worsening security crisis gripping the country, declaring that it is “tired of mourning”, following the massacre of over 100 people in Yelwata, Benue State.

In a no-holds-barred media briefing on Tuesday, Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said the upper chamber has reached its breaking point and can no longer condone the killing of innocent Nigerians in Plateau, Benue, Zamfara, and other parts of the country.

“From Plateau to Benue to Zamfara, we keep burying our people. The Senate is heartbroken. We are angry. We are tired of writing condolence letters,” Adaramodu said with emotion.

“We are tired of mourning. The time has come to act.”

Adaramodu condemned the Yelwata killings as “very unfortunate,” confirming that a high-powered delegation of Senators will visit Benue State on Wednesday to commiserate with affected families and assess the situation on the ground.

“Tomorrow’s visit to Benue will signal that the government is serious, both the legislature and the executive. “This is not business as usual,” he said.

He further revealed that the Senate, in collaboration with the House of Representatives and the Presidency, is preparing a broad-based National Security Summit, not just for military actors, but also for civil society groups, traditional rulers, the media, youth, and women leaders.

“Security must become local again. The locals know the terrain, they know the threats. We are working with the executive to bring everyone to the table — not just the military, but the people themselves,” he said.

Adaramodu reiterated that the National Assembly has backed the executive with necessary appropriations and funding to combat insecurity and expects swift and sustained results.

He clarified that there has been no delay in transmitting the 2024 Supplementary Budget or security-related bills to the Presidency.

“There is no confusion. There is no delay. The Senate and the House have signed, and the bills are now with the President,” he assured.

Responding to criticisms about a recent emergency rule endorsement, Adaramodu explained that all procedures followed Senate Standing Orders and constitutional practice.

“People keep questioning what they don’t understand. Emergency decisions like these are discussed in closed sessions. Once a consensus is reached, it is affirmed in plenary. That’s the rule,” he said.

The lawmaker clarified that at the time of electing presiding officers, Standing Orders had not been formally adopted — hence, a different procedural flow was used.

Dismissing public perceptions that Senators are on endless recess, the Senate spokesperson said the chamber consistently exceeds the constitutional minimum of 181 days of sitting per year.

He said, “We sit more than required. Our work is not limited to plenary. We work in committees, conduct investigations and provide oversight. Even during breaks, work continues.”

Touching on legislative probes, Adaramodu said not every investigation ends in dramatic headlines, but many result in quiet policy corrections or deterrence.

“When we probe, it’s to drive change. For instance, a medicine probe we initiated prompted action even before the process was completed. If the outcome is achieved, we move on,” he said.

According to Adaramodu, the Senate has uncovered economic mismanagement and hidden debts inherited from previous administrations, which the current government is now addressing.

He said, “Some offences happened under the last government. But the new administration is fixing them. That’s why we don’t need to dramatise it again.”

He cited the restoration of a disputed 5 per cent allocation as an example of legislative correction that resolved a major controversy.

“What made Tuesday’s briefing remarkable was not just the information shared, but the emotion behind it. For a chamber often accused of aloofness, the Senate struck a raw chord.

“Our people can no longer sleep. Mothers are burying children. Entire communities are vanishing. This must not be normal. It will not be normal. The Senate will not watch it happen again,” Adaramodu declared.