Abuja — There was anger and disgust in the Senate chamber yesterday as members contributed to a motion on the armed robbery attack that took place on Thursday, last week along Benin-Lagos expressway in daylight.

Senators condemned the incident in which the armed gang ordered the driver of the luxury bus at gun point, to run over the passengers several times after they were ordered to lie face down on the road.

The Upper Chamber, after exhaustive contributions to the motion sponsored by Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu North) and 58 others, constituted an eight-man Ad Hoc Committee to probe the incident.

It also summoned the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ogbonna Onovo to brief it on steps being taken to halt the seeming drift into anarchy in the federation. The Senate also observed a minute silence in honour of those killed by the armed robbers.

The committee set up by the Senate is headed by Senator Patrick Osakwe (PDP, Delta North). Other members are Nuhu Aliyu (PDP, Niger North), Bode Ola (AC, Ekiti Central), Eze (PDP, Enugu North), Otaru Ohize (PDP, Kogi Central), Dahiru Bako Gassol (PDP,Taraba Central), Abdulaziz Usman (PDP, Jigawa East) and Simeon Oduoye (PDP, Osun Central).

Eze, who moved the motion, said: "A deranged robbery gang, after robbing a luxury bus that fateful afternoon on the Benin-Lagos Expressway, commanded those who had nothing on them to lie face down and commanded the driver of the bus at gun point to run over them several times."

He said women and innocent children were among those affected and warned the dangerous act might mark the early signs of a nation descending into anarchy, if not quickly checked. According to him, "We are concerned that this horrendous act is the height of the decline of security in the country and, more importantly, a reflection of the sorry state of our psyche as a nation."

He said they were equally aware that "robbery has stubbornly refused to go away in the land as was evident by incidents in many parts of the country". Eze and his colleagues prayed the Senate to condemn "this beastly and grossly inhuman act in the strongest terms possible; and invite the Inspector General of Police to brief the Senate on the actions being taken to arrest this drift into anarchy in our land".

They called on the Senate to "direct the Committee on Police Affairs to investigate the capacity of the police (manpower/training/equipment) to check this kind of dastardly act and others against budgetary provisions made over the years and report back within six weeks".

In addition, they urged the police to take every step possible to arrest and prosecute the perpetuators of the crime.

Contributing to the motion, Senator Ibrahim Ida (PDP, Katsina Central) said: "This issue is very disturbing. I could not even look at the pictures and when I looked at the pictures eventually, I lost my appetite. It is not an isolated incident. It affects the psyche of Nigerians. Where were the police? Where were the check points, because the road is a busy highway?

"The police only know how to brandish their guns. This issue should not be swept under the carpet because till now, there is no reaction from the police. The issue should be investigated to the letter."

Deputy Senate Leader Victor Ndoma Egba (SAN) (PDP, Cross River Central) said: "What I saw in the picture is totally unimaginable. What kind of human being would agree to run over innocent human beings? I think the driver is as wicked as the robbers."

Contributing to the motion, Deputy Minority Leader Olorunnimbe Mamora (AC, Lagos East) stated: "I feel heavy pain in my heart over this ugly incident. This incident qualifies to be called modern Sodom and Gomorrah. It happened in the day time. A deed so bestial, heinous, mind-boggling, among others, can be committed in the day time, I think we have lost our senses."

Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence Nuhu Aliyu (PDP, Niger North) said: "Not only should the IGP be invited to brief the Senate but the Corps Marshal of the Road Safety should also be invited."

Senate President David Mark (PDP, Benue South), was apparently disturbed about the incident and expressed concern at the danger bandits pose to lives and property.

"If the government cannot protect the lives and property of Nigerians, it calls for questions; and, besides, nobody has been arrested or called for questioning. The driver himself is the greatest criminal. If he had been allowed to be killed by the robbers, he would have died a hero," said Mark.