(Kemi Yesufu, ABUJA)
The House of Representatives, yesterday resolved to investigate attacks on Ekiti state people by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
To this end, the House is to constitute an ad hoc committee to conduct an investigation on the motive behind the attack.
In adopting a motion raised under matters of urgent public importance, entitled: “Urgent Need to Investigate The Fatal Invasion of Oke Ako Ekiti Community by Suspected Herdsmen”, by Emmanuel Agboola (Ekiti-PDP), the House also called on the House directed the Inspector – General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase to deploy Police personnel to affected areas to prevent a repeat of the attack.
Lawmaker equally urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to affected communities.
Leading the debate on the motion, Agboola warned that the attacks if not curbed would lead to reprisal attacks, which could threaten the peaceful co-existence among different groups currently being experienced across the country.
The lawmaker wondered how the call for Nigerians to embrace agriculture by current administration, in a bid to diversify the economy will work, when farmers are being attacked and their farms destroyed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
”Lives are randomly lost in these incessant attacks and sometimes in a dimension that is similar only to genocide, just like the one at Oke Ako in Ekiti state.
”Certain states are already taking steps to stem the tide in a manner that suggests that the Federal Government is seemingly insensitive to this very worrisome development, “the lawmaker said.
The House presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, unanimously adopted the motion after it was put to a voice vote.
Dogara also urged the Police Service Commission to hasten the process of recruitment of more personnel into the force.
The ad hoc committee is to report findings back to the House within six weeks for further legislative action.