House of Representatives has requested President Muhammadu Buhari to address the lower chambers and the nation within 48 hours over the resurgence of killings by alleged herdsmen and bandits across the country.
The lawmakers made the request following a motion by Representative Mark Gbillah (PDP-Benue) at Thursday plenary.
“The House is alarmed at the brazen nature of the attacks by the herdsmen and alleged bandits who attack these communities with impunity brazenly clad in military fatigues and audibly communicating with each other in Fulani as reported by eyewitness accounts from the recent attacks in Kaduna.
“Obviously emboldened by the inability of the Nigerian armed forces to curb their activities, these killers have gradually progressed from attacking remote villages at night to sacking whole towns in broad daylight displacing residents and occupying affected communities,” Mr Gbillah said.
Gbillah added that they had “no other option than to directly engage the President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces who has primary responsibility for the security and welfare of every Nigerian citizen.”
The motion was unanimously supported by all members when it was raised by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
The House resolved that failure of the president to yield to their requests within 48 hours would be considered as the president being unable to permanently put an end to the killings.
An ad hoc committee was created to interface with the Presidency and engage the minister of defence, chief of defence staff, and other service chiefs in a public hearing to determine permanent solutions to the menace.
