The House of Representatives yesterday decried abduction of the district head of Panya community in Plateau State, Da Aminu Dalwang and some of his subjects on Monday.
This is just as the deputy speaker of the House, Idris Wase described resolutions of the House on insecurity as “mere statements” that are not respected by concerned authorities.
To this end, the House resolved to summon the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Faruk Yahaya and other relevant security agencies to appear before it.
It also asked the security agencies to immediately do everything possible to ensure the safe release of the monarch and others in kidnappers’ captivity across the country, including victims of the Kaduna train attack.
The member representing Mangu/Bokkos federal constituency of the state, Hon Solomon Mareng, who raised a motion of urgent national importance noted that the kidnap of the district head was the latest in the series of abductions targeted at traditional rulers and clergymen in the state. He said the attacks and kidnappings of traditional rulers have been systematic and coordinated.
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“Concerned that the spate of kidnappings, abductions and attacks have been systematic, well-coordinated and targeted across the constituency, the state and the country is alarming and of great concern. Also concerned that bandits are usually having a field day in carrying out and in perpetrating this heinous activity without any form of resistance, challenge and or confrontation by security agents. Concerned that hitherto, little or nothing has been heard of any serious other deliberate actions taking to forestall or even arrest and prosecute these hoodlums. Worried that unless something is done deliberately or in fact urgently to reduce, stop or curtail these ugly occurrences, our communities will soon be thrown into total terror, fear or lawlessness,” he said.
He, however, urged the house to call on the federal government through the Inspector General of Police to immediately do everything possible to secure the safe release of the traditional ruler and other Nigerians in captivity across the country.
While contributing to a motion, Wase said that abduction for ransom is a daily occurrence in the constituency. He said kidnappers demand as much as N10 million from villagers who are struggling to survive.
“Despite the resolutions of the House urging the security agencies to put out formations in some of these areas, so that we will be able to stop these things, but till this moment, nothing has happened. It is like our resolutions are mere statements. If they are taking us seriously, I believe many of these things can be stopped.
“I lost about five persons – they will take the ransom and still kill the person. At times, these things take place in places where you have a security unit… shoot sporadically and abduct people,” he said.
He said that it was heartbreaking that despite all the resolutions by the House to put up formations in the trouble areas, nothing has happened.
” I’m worried because it’s like our resolutions are just mere statements that we are making,” he said.
He noted that peace needs to be restored to Plateau State for neighbouring states to have peace.
Chief Whip of the House, Hon Tahir Mungonu, who raised an amendment to the motion called on state governments affected by insecurity to adopt the “Borno Model” by forming vigilante groups to tackle insecurity in their domain.
“My amendment or additional prayer is that states that are affected by the insecurity problems should form vigilante groups with the support from their respective state government and also arm them with lighter weapons having gotten clearance from the office of the National Security Advice”.
In his reaction, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, described the incident as ‘’ A very serious Issue.” He noted that clearly, insecurity affects all parts of the country and ruled that the affected state governments should employ the services of local vigilantes.
