By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has directed security agencies to conduct a thorough and wholesome investigation into the circumstances that led to the heartless, gruesome and despicable murder while exercising restraint in the application of military force on civilians.
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Abubakar Makki Yalleman on the need to stop the incessant and gruesome killing of military personnel on peace mission across the country on Wednesday at plenary.
In his lead debate, Rep. Makki expressed deep sadness over what he described as the needles and gruesome mulder of military personnel who are often on peace missions across the country.
According to the lawmaker, the act of attacking and killing military personnel is often carried out through surprise attacks on military formations including check points and even those on routine patrols.
Makki who is the Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs bemoaned the recent brutal attack on military personnel at a checkpoint at Obikabia Junction in Aba, Abia state where five soldiers were horrendously murdered by suspected gunmen.
He expressed sadness that the perpetrators of the act destroyed and burnt down the military vehicles at the checkpoint while some soldiers narrowly escaped with gunshot injuries.
He said: “Aware that these military personnel were on a peace mission in their service to their fatherland and ensuring the security of lives and property in that area.
“Distressed that this form of attack and killing of military personnel by gunmen in the South East and other parts of Nigeria has a potential of dampening the morale of our armed forces, endangering the lives and property of Nigerians and affecting the war on insecurity which has so far recorded some successes.
“Worried that it could also lead to retaliatory attack by the military and cause huge collateral damage on the people,” he added.
Contribution to the debate, the chairman, House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, expressed sadness as he sad that security personnel are being killed by non-state actors.
Also, Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, said it is regrettable that while lawmakers are speaking against insecurity, security personnel are being killed by non- state actors across the country.
Gagdi said : “we are here speaking against insecurity and institution responsible for protection of lives and property of the citizens are being killed on daily basis. On daily basis, they must kill a police officer in the course of his duty to protect the lives and property of the citizens of this country. They kill civil defense ( personnel) on daily basis. They army (personnel) on daily basis. They kill air force (personnel) They kill Navy(personnel).This is not acceptable, Mr Speaker. “
The House adopted the motion, observed a minute silence for the souls of the five military personnel killed in that horrendous incident and mandated the Committees on Defence to interface with the Armed Forces to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative actions.