Reps summon Buhari over rising insecurity

As the spate of killings by herdsmen and bandits continue in parts of the country, the House of Representatives has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to appear before it to address the nation on the killings.

The House made the resolution on Thursday, declaring that if the President failed to address the nation over the current level of insecurity, it would be a confirmation of the opinion of many that his administration has failed in its responsibility to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.

The lawmaker representing Gwer-East/Gwer-West Federal Constituency in Benue State, Mr Mark Gbillah moved the motion that resulted in the resolution.

While adopting the motion titled ‘Resurgence of the incessant and annual massacre of innocent Nigerians across the country by alleged bandits and killer herdsmen, the gradual occupation of affected communities by these attackers and the lack of adequate rehabilitation and relief materials’, the lawmakers resolved to “request that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to address the House and the entire nation within 48 hours.”

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The lawmakers want the President Buhari to explain to Nigerians his “inability and the inability of his administration, since inception, to declare the killer herdsmen as terrorists, to enable the Armed Forces to take commensurate action against them.

“The inability of the Armed Forces under his watch to stop the recurring death of scores of innocent Nigerians annually from systemic attacks by killer herdsmen and alleged bandits, and the gradual occupation of the affected communities by these herdsmen despite countless assurances and statements by him, promising to stop these attacks.

“His selective and ineffective responses to the killing of Nigerians by herdsmen, especially when they occur in certain parts of the country like Benue State.

“The immediate measures he intends to employ as the Commander-in-Chief to provide the Armed Forces, including the police, with the required resources (equipment and welfare, etc) to confront and dislodge the killer herdsmen from their known hideouts, establishment of permanent presence in immediate proximity to affected communities and provide a timeline within which these attacks by killer herdsmen and alleged bandits will be curtailed, so Nigerians can return to their ancestral homes and means of livelihood.”

The House also resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to interface with the Presidency regarding the queries, while it would engage with the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs, state governments and relevant stakeholders.

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