The House of Representatives has reaffirmed its call for the declaration of state of emergency on insecurity in the country, following the recent attacks and killing of people in Plateau and Benue States in the central part of the country.
The decision followed the adoption of two motions of urgent public importance on the attacks in Kanem, Plateau State and Tarka Benue State moved by Yusuf Gadji and Benjamin Mzodu at the plenary.
Gagdi a member from Plateau State, alleged that that despite intelligence reports by the Department of State Services on the influx of terrorists into Plateau and other neighboring States, no proactive measures were initiated by security agencies to avert the attacks.
“Disturbed that despite intelligent reports by the Department of State Service, on the influx of terrorist fleeing to Plateau and other neighboring communities of Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas, no proactive measures were initiated by security agencies to avert these ugly terror attacks.
The security agencies have reliable information at their disposal of the various camps of these terrorist in Kambari forest in Taraba State as well as Bangala in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State where these terrorist use to organize and coordinate attacks on innocent citizens of Plateau State and other parts of Nigeria.” Gagdi stressed.
Mr. Mzondu from Benue State in his motion expressed concerned that if no stringent security measures are taking to safeguard the lives and property of citizens the affected areas would be economically and socially grounded, thus posing threat to security and peace to the country.
He said “Aware that the House of Representatives passed a resolution on a similar motion on 14th December, 2021 and many other security resolutions over the past and have communicated all the resolutions to Government and all security agencies, but unfortunately no action was taken.”
The Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris-Wase, who presided over the plenary called for the prosecution of security agents found guilty of assisting the bandits.
A member from Katsina State, Fatuhu Muhammad, stressed the need for relevant committees of the House to strengthen their oversight functions to find a lasting solution to the problem.
Fatuhu explained that “As lawmakers we need to do more than we think we are doing, because apart from appropriation period we don’t take things serious. These people would come and present their budgets and move on, we approved money to them, there is no oversight. How do you expect us to checkmate them?”
For a member from Benue State, Blessing Onuh, addressing the nation’s security challenges is the responsibility of all Nigerians and not government alone stressing the need for more campaign for attitudinal change.
“Do you even know who your neighbours are? Everything we keep blaming the President, the President would not come and tell me who my neighbor is. We should embark on massive awareness campaign “Operation Know Who Your Neighbor Is”, we should begin to take it to our schools.” Mrs. Onuh stressed.
Adopting the motion, the House called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately deploy Mobile Police Force Squadrons to maintain law and order and provide Mobile Police Force Squadron formation in the affected communities.
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