Insecurity: Reps ask FG to disarm herdsmen across Nigeria

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently institute a Presidential Task Force to disarm all herdsmen in Benue state and  across the country.

The House equally agreed to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to interface with the service chiefs to know what they are doing to tackle the issue of herdsmen.

To this end, the House urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send food and other relief materials to the affected communities.

The House resolution followed a motion moved by,  Honourable Emmanuel Orker-Jev and 10 others entitled, “call on President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to direct the immediate disarmament of armed and strange herdsmen in Bukuru and other parts of Benue state”.

According to him, the herdsmen attacked and killed anybody they encountered around the communities of Ber Awuna, Dogo, and Ortese – Mbashian, Tse Igyu, Tse Gebe, Anbighir, Tse Iwa, Gbaikyo, Agudu, Nyorum, Shonto and Abuku communities.

He added that, the herdsmen destroyed farms, plundered yam barns and looted houses deserted by innocent and harmless villagers, stressing that the invading herdsmen became violent and destructive, created fear and tension which forced residents of most communities in Binev council ward to flee their homes.

He also noted that, “These violent attacks continued unabated without any intervention from any security agency throughout Saturday and 20 people were reported killed by these armed herdsmen, out of whom 10 bodies have so far been recovered and deposited at the local government”.

Continuing he said, “These strange herdsmen who are heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, seem to be operating or supported by a killer squad of mercenaries that arrived the communities on Friday night on motorcycles and unleashed the mayhem the following day”.

In his contribution, Honourable Ezekiel Adaji said that, no accurate decision have been taken by the executive to deal with the issue. He then asked the House to ensure that the House committee on legislative compliance ensures that the resolution of the House is complied with.

Honourable Segun Adekola while contributing to the motion said that the herdsmen’s causing havoc should be fish out.

Honourable Herman Hembe in his contribution said that government of Benue state started amnesty program for people to surrender their arms, stressing that, federal government should ensure that the attack is not allowed to continue.

When the motion was put to vote by the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Yussuf Lasun who presided over the session it was supported by majority of the lawmakers.