Apparently peeved by the manner armed robbers invaded banks in Otukpo last week, Reps resolved to send a strong message to security chiefs to live up to their billings or resign their appointments immediately.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was sequel to a motion under matters of public importance, promoted by Hon Blessing Onu.
Onuh moved a motion on the need to investigate the recent armed robbery attacks and killing of innocent Nigerians in a community in her constituency of Otukpo/Ohimini in Benue State, and it was seconded by Hon. Francis Waive.
Leading the debate, the Benue federal lawmaker stated that gunmen numbering over 20 laid siege on the community for hours.
“The gunmen killed the vigilante on guard and then turned on the police killing about 4 officers. She further stated that the gunmen also attacked some banks killing people in the banking hall and carting away huge sums of money. Hon. Onuh stated that the effect of the attack has led to the shutting down of economic activities in the community as panic is still prevalent on residents.
She called on the House to condemn the criminal acts. She further called on the relevant security apparatus to apprehend the perpetrators of this dastardly act. Hon. Onuh called on the federal government to provide additional security apparatus to the community and that the House should ensure compliance to the prayers of the motion so that such barbaric acts do not reoccur.
In his contribution, Hon.Ahmed Jaha decried the waste of lives and property by the bandits. He termed the act as an act of terrorism. He called on the relevant security apparatus to ensure this does not happen in other areas of the country. Hon. Jaha further decried the increasing number of motions on insecurity despite the various efforts of the House to checkmating this. He bemoaned the fact that insecurity has become a cash-cow for security related agencies. He then called for effective over-sighting of security agencies by the relevant Committees of the House.
Also, Hon. Abdullahi Halims in his contribution stated that the incidents of insecurity has spread from the Northeast, the Northwest to the North Central parts of Nigeria. He called for the security agencies in these localities to be more empowered to tackle and reinforce against these bandits.
He further bemoaned the effects these attacks have on commercial activities in these localities.
Hon. Philip Agbese bemoaned the bloody event in Benue State. He called on the security apparatus of the nation to step up their reaction to acts of insecurity as Nigerians seem to have lost confidence in their abilities to protect them.
He called on the House to send a strong message to the leadership of relevant security agencies to be up and doing or resign to make way for capable hands to man the affairs of such agencies. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee National Security, Police as well as that on Army.