The House of Representatives on Tuesday unveiled plans to investigate the recent armed robbery attacks and killing of innocent Nigerians in a community in Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency of Benue State.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on Matters of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon Blessing Onuh.
In her lead debate, Hon Onuh stated that gunmen numbering over 20 laid siege on the community for hours. According to the lawmaker, the gunmen killed the Vigilante on guard and then turned on the police, killing about four officers.
She further stated that the gunmen also attacked some banks, killing people in the banking hall and carting away huge sums of money. Hon. Onuh stated that the effect of the attack has led to the shutting down of economic activities in the community as panic is still prevalent among residents.
While stressing the need for the House to condemn the criminal acts, Hon Onuh further called on the relevant security apparatus to apprehend the perpetrators of this dastardly act.
Hon Onuh also called on the Federal Government to provide additional security apparatus to the community and that the House should ensure compliance with the prayers of the motion so that such barbaric acts do not reoccur. In his remarks, Hon. Ahmed Jaha decried the waste of lives and property by the bandits.
The lawmaker, who termed the act as an act of terrorism, called on the relevant security apparatus to ensure this does not happen in other areas of the country. Hon Jaha further decried the increasing number of motions on insecurity despite the House’s various efforts to checkmate this.
While lamenting the fact that insecurity has become a cash cow for security-related agencies, he called for effective over-sighting of security agencies by the relevant Committees of the House. In his contribution, Hon. Abdullahi Halims observed that the incidents of insecurity have spread from the North East North West to the North Central parts of Nigeria.
While calling on the security agencies in these localities to be more empowered to tackle and reinforce these bandits, he lamented the effects these attacks have on commercial activities in these localities.
Also speaking, Deputy Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Philip Agbese, who bemoaned the bloody event in Benue State, called on the security apparatus of the nation to step up their reaction to acts of insecurity as Nigerians seem to have lost confidence in their abilities to protect them.
He, therefore, called on the House to send a strong message to the leadership of relevant security agencies to be up and doing or resign to make way for capable hands to manage such agencies’ affairs. While ruling on the motion, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas referred to the joint Committee National Security, Police and Army for further legislative action.
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