House of Reps summons Buhari to appear before it to answer questions on upsurge in violence

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been summoned to appear before the House of Representatives to answer questions about the growing state of insecurity across the country following the recent upsurge of violence in several northern states.

Over the last week, about 50 people are reported to have been killed in Zamfara State as the growing banditry there continues to escalate. With gold deposits recently discovered in the state, the mining of these minerals is thought to be fuelling the crisis and in response, the federal government has suspended all mining activities for the time being.

In southern Kaduna State, the ongoing communal violence between Muslim Fulani herdsmen and Christian farming communities has also claimed more lives this week. With the violence spiralling out of control, President Buhari returned from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates a day earlier than scheduled this week to address the crisis.

Yesterday, a resolution moved by the lawmaker representing Gwer-East/Gwer-West Federal Constituency in Benue State, Hon Mark Gbillah, was adopted asking President Buhari to appear before the house to answer questions on the matter. Adopting the motion, which was not debated, 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.

It read: "Buhari is expected to make some explanations to Nigerians on 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 to confront and dislodge the killer herdsmen from their known hideouts, the 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.”

Also, the House further resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to interface with the presidency regarding the queries. It would also engage with the defence minister, chief of defence staff and service chiefs, state governments and relevant stakeholders to determine permanent solutions to the killing of innocent Nigerians by killer herdsmen and bandits, including the complicity of any Nigerian or group in the perpetration of these killings and land grabbing.