Reps Demands Swift Action Against Plateau Killings, Ask For More Military Bases

The House of Representatives have called for swift action against killings and kidnappings in the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, North-central Nigeria.

This was also as the House urged the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa to establish two military bases in Kanam; one each in Gun-Gagdi and Garga axis respectively of the Federal Constituency.

It also called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to deploy additional personnel to the affected areas in Gun-Gagdi, Garga, Pankshin and Kanke.

The House further urged the Director, Department of State Security to conduct a security operation in the area to flush out bandits and Boko Haram members while the Federal Government was asked to provide relief materials to the victims of various attacks who are in IDP camps.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC, Plateau) at plenary on Wednesday.

Moving the motion, Gagdi said there are several documented incidents of deliberate threats, kidnapping and assaults targeting members of Panskshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State.

He recalled that an APC Publicity Secretary, Sylvanus Namang was shot in the head at Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State and he died as a result of the injury sustained from the attack.

The lawmaker lamented that the lifeless body of one of a former member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Sunday Muchen, whom we they served together was found in Bokkos forest in Plateau State.

Gagdi bemoaned the kidnapping of a priest and the alleged involvement of the financial secretary of the church and other members in that act as well as the abduction of lecturers of the University of Education Pankshin, amongst others.

The Chairman House Committee on Navy expressed concern that Kanam’s forest has now become a safe haven for bandits and Boko Haram terrorists as a result of influx from other states that are affected by banditry and Boko Haram activities.

“Also Concerned that attacks in the forest of Panskshin/Kanke/Kanam and kidnappings of local farmers have been going on unabated.

“Worried that the members of these communities are highly vulnerable due to inadequacy of Police, Civil Defence and other security personnel in these areas.

“Disturbed that reports of diverse acts of violence have been made with such frequency that a failure to address them portend serious danger,” he argued.

Adopting the motion, the House observed a minute silence to honour the souls of the slain APC Spokesperson, former Plateau lawmaker and all the departed and condoled the families of the deceased while it mandated the relevant Committees to ensure compliance.

In a similar event, the House also condemned the incessant and gruesome killing of military personnel on peace mission across the country.

It therefore, mandated the security agencies to conduct a thorough and wholesome investigation into the circumstances that led to the heartless, gruesome and despicable murder while exercising restraint in the application of military force on civilians.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Abubakar Makki Yalleman (APC, Jigawa) at plenary.

Moving the motion, Makki expressed deep sadness over what he described as the needles and gruesome mulder of military personnel who are often on peace missions across the country.

The lawmaker said the act of attacking and killing military personnel is often carried out through surprise attacks on military formations including check points and even those on routine patrols.

He bemoaned the recent brutal attack on military personnel at a checkpoint at Obikabia Junction in Aba, Abia state where five soldiers were horrendously murdered by suspected gunmen.

The Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs, expressed sadness that the perpetrators of the act destroyed and burnt down the military vehicles at the checkpoint while some soldiers narrowly escaped with gunshot injuries.

“Aware that these military personnel were on a peace mission in their service to their fatherland and ensuring the security of lives and property in that area.

“Distressed that this form of attack and killing of military personnel by gunmen in the South East and other parts of Nigeria has a potential of dampening the morale of our armed forces, endangering the lives and property of Nigerians and affecting the war on insecurity which has so far recorded some successes.

“Worried that it could also lead to retaliatory attack by the military and cause huge collateral damage on the people,” the former speakership aspirant added.

Adopting the motion, the House observed a minute silence for the souls of the five military personnel killed in that horrendous incident and mandated the Committees on Defence to interface with the Armed Forces to ensure compliance and report to the House within four weeks.