Senate urge FG to compensate victims of Yoruba/Hausa clash

The Senate has urged the federal government to pay adequate compensation to the families of victims of the recent

The Senate further called on the federal government to bear the cost of rebuilding houses and businesses destroyed during the clash.

The resolutions were sequel to a motion co-sponsored by Senators Jibrin Barau (Kano north) and Shehu Sani (Kaduna central) on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.

Barau noted that Ile-Ife holds a special place in the consciousness of the Yoruba race as their ancestral home in which other ethnic groups including Hausa have lived and thrived for several decades.

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He said: "The fact that the amity could not have been achieved if the people of Ile-Ife were not part of a race that is very accommodating as exemplified by the fact that the immediate past Ooni of Ife, was the closest traditional ruler, friend and ally to the late

"That the Ooni of Ife, since his ascension has demonstrated an uncommon zeal of symbol of unity among the diverse peoples of the country," he added.

The Senate, however, rejected the prayer to visit scenes of the destruction but called on Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, to prevent such re-occurrence of such dispute in Ile-Ife or any other part of the country.

A minute silence was observed in honour of dead victims of the clash.

The motion was adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force says it arrested 21 suspects over the March 8 killings and destruction of property in Ile-Ife, Osun State.