Lawmakers ask Nigeria Police to investigate Shasha violence

By LawanHamidu, Abuja

The House of Representatives has asked the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a speedy and thorough investigation into the recent violence in Oyo State.

This will allow  prosecution and punishment of those who instigated and participated in the killings and destruction of property.

Speaker of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who announced this in an address on the Shasha violence and the rising spate of inter-ethnic violence in the country, said the House would not sit back while Nigerians are killed by their fellow countrymen.

Mr. Gbajabiamila also said the House welcomed the committee constituted by President MuhammaduBuhari headed by the National Security Adviser (NSA), BabaganaMonguno, to hold peace and unity consultations across the country.

“We will constitute a working group to participate in these consultations. We will work together to examine the cultural, religious, and localized conflicts over land and history that are often at the root of internal security challenges and violent upheavals such as occurred in Oyo state last week and other parts of the country over the years.”Gbajabiamila said.

While commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident, the government and the good people of Oyo State, the Speaker assured all Nigerians that the House would “work within the powers available to us, to prevent reoccurrence of similar incidents, not just in Oyo State, but across our country – North, West, East and South.”

Mr. Gbajabiamilaalso urged all those who have large followership of people who listen to them and respect their voices, to be more circumspect about the information they share, the language they use, and the conversations they enable.

“The words we use about each other can have outsize consequences on our nation’s peace and stability because words have the power to build and also to destroy.

“And to political leaders, let me reiterate that we have a greater responsibility to keep the peace in our country. And to do that, we must first commit ourselves to the cause of equal justice and fair treatment for all.

Only then, can we wage peace with resolve, secure in the knowledge that with peace, a more prosperous union is within reach,” the Speaker added.

Confidence Okwuchi