The House of Representatives on Thursday urged Federal Government of Nigeria to direct the Joint Security Task Force stationed in Benue State to initiate a full coordinated security operation, with aerial surveillance and other necessary combat mission plans to flush out the bandits, to allow the farmers to return to their farmlands to continue to ensure adequate food production within a secured environment.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on the need to address incessant Banditry attacks in Gwer West, Markurdi and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State.
The motion was sponsored by Hon. Austine Asema Achado and Hon. Dickson Tarkighir.
In his lead debate, Hon. Achado observed that the important role of the state in the provision of maximum security of lives and properties of all citizens of our nation, as enshrined in Section 14(2b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The Houseware of the recent occupation by a large number of bandits at the boundary villages of Benue
State with Nasarawa State, resulting in wanton killings, kidnapping and harassment of farmers and the rural communities of Gwer West, Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas and other communities in Benue State.
“The House is saddened that so many innocent and valuable lives have been wasted in the boundaries of Benue
State with Nasarawa State, the most recent being the killing on 4th July 2023 of Tersoo Magah, a graduate of ABU Zaria by herdsmen in Mbabai ward, while on the 20th June 2023, Nyitwev Ushir and lorgerem Ushir were killed in Nzorov ward; and on 25th June 2023 Joseph Torjeem of Tse Der, Nyiev was killed by the bandits. Continuing on this saga on 27th June 2023, Joseph Serga was chased and killed in his village, and all these unwarranted attacks are unabated, over 40 lives have been lost in the last week in Benue State, in this regard.
“The House is further aware that the marauding bandits have been left to operate unhindered and have built up
the resilience, capacity and courage to drive away the farmers from their ancestral homes thereby denying them access to their farms and means of livelihood.
“The House is concerned with the utmost implication of having a roving community of farmers across the
farming regions of Benue State, without steady and peaceful settlements to practice their profession and livelihood of producing surplus food crops to the citizens.”
To this end, the House urged Federal Government to facilitate the resettlement of the displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
In the bid to bring succour to the affected Citizens, the House tasked National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the need to send relief materials to assuage the sufferings of the affected communities who have been unable to access their farmlands, and many of them now in IDP Camps in Agagbe, Naka, Makurdi, Gbajimba
and other IDP camps in Benue State.
Hence, the House resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the deplorable condition of the displaced
villagers at the border communities of Benue State with Nasarawa State and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
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