…summon heads of security agencies
Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently institute a Presidential Task Force to disarm all terrorising and killing innocent Nigerians in Benue State and other parts of the country.
The House also urged Idris Ibrahim, Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the wanton killing and destruction of properties, natural habitat and livelihoods of communities in Binev Council ward, arrest the perpetrators of these barbaric acts and restore security in those areas.
On its part, the House during the plenary session resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to invite all heads of security to explain why the menace cannot be controlled.
The resolutions were passed following the adoption of the motion sponsored by Emmanuel Orker-Jev (Benue-APC) and 10 other Benue lawmakers namely: Mark Gbillah, John Dyegh, Herman Hembe, Adamu Entonu, Benjamin Wayo, Hassan Saleh, Ezekiel Adaji, Emmanuel Udende, Samson Okwu and Tarkighir Dickson.
In his lead debate, Orker-Jev who condemned the invasion of communities in Buruku local government area of Benue by armed and strange herdsmen on March 9, 2017, alleged that the armed herdsmen destroyed farms, plundered yam barns and looted houses deserted by innocent and armless villagers.
Orker-Jev who doubles as chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, said the violent and destructive herdsmen created fear and tension which forced residents of most communities in Binev council ward to flee their homes.
“The marauding herdsmen attacked and killed anybody they encountered around the communities of Ber Awuna, Dogo, Ortese – Mbashian, Tse Igyu, Tse Gebe, Anbighir, Tse Iwa, Gbaikyo, Agudu, Nyorum, Shonto and Abuku communities.
“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 which 10 bodies have so far been recovered and deposited at the local government.
“These strange herdsmen who are heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, seem to be operating or supported by a killer squad of mercenaries,” he observed.
The lawmaker, who emphasised that the attacks had become a perennial occurrence, stressed the need for the arrest of the perpetrators in order to restore security in the state.
On his part, Adamu Entonu (PDP-Benue) urged Federal Government to brand and treat the herdsmen as terrorists group.
“It is very annoying that since the attacks started, no one has been arrested,” he noted regretfully.
In his remarks, Baballe Bashir (APC-Kano) who argued that the herdsmen attacks started over 20 years ago, explained that “Nigeria has herdsmen from different tribes and tackling the issue is the concern of every Nigerian. Unfortunately it is a systemic failure on the previous governments for inability to curb the menace.”
In his contribution, Herman Hembe, chairman House Committee on FCT who frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of the present administration towards the lingering crisis, called for deliberate efforts toward ending the crisis.
“Government has not shown willingness to address the issue. Ordinarily our communities would have accommodated them, but the damage they cause brings to question what their intentions are. That is not how we ought to move as a nation; we need to take concious decisions towards addressing the issue,” Hembe stressed.
To this end, the House urged National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send food and other relief materials to the affected communities.
While ruling, Yussuff Lasun, Deputy Speaker who presided over the plenary session referred the motion to the Committee on Special Duties for further legislative action and report back to the House within two weeks.
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