Curb excesses of Plateau attacks From JIDAUNA YANUNG, Abuja THE House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to set up a commission of Inquiry to address the growing incidences of attacks on ethnic communities in Plateau State by nomadic herdsmen with a view to curbing its excesses. Moving a motion under matters of urgent national importance in the House in Abuja Representative, BeniLar (PDP Plateau) noted that on June 27, 2013, the communities of Magama, Bolgang and Karkashi in Langtang South Federal Constituency were brutally attacked by nomadic herdsmen killing about 70 persons comprising of the elderly, women and children with over 100 homes destroyed and 7,000 people displaced. She that it was unfortunate that a similar attack on some communities in Riyom/BarkinLadi Federal Constituency of Plateau State by nomadic herdsmen last year led to the loss of lives of Senator GyangDantong and Hon. Gyang Fulani. According to Representative BeniLar, the incessant attacks have become a re-occurring situation in both Langtang North/South with the recent incident being the most deadly and vicious of all the previous attacks. She noted that there has been an upsurge of loss of lives in Nigeria particularly in Langtang North/South. The Legislator also expressed concern that Nigeria which has over 5000 soldiers spread across the African continent in various peace keeping missions does not have enough soldiers and security personnel to protect innocent lives from internal attacks in crisis prone areas. The House condemned the killing of innocent lives and the destruction of properties in Langtang South and mandated the Committee on Defence to check the activities of the Special Task Force in Langtang North/South. The House also mandated the Committee on Works to see to the completion of the Sabon-Gida to Ibi road linking Langtang South to Taraba State to open up the access road to reduce the vulnerability of the communities. In another development, former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and now the member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Go’ar has condemned in strong terms the wanton destruction of lives and properties in Langtang South local government area recently by armed bandits. Hon. Go’ar said in a press statement personally signed by him and made available to National Assembly Press Corps in Abuja, called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency address the incidences of attacks on Nigerians especially the people of Plateau State by nomadic herdsmen with a view to curbing the menace. Representative Go’ar who vowed to personally take up the issue, noted that the constitution of Nigerian guarantees the right to life for every Nigerian citizen and this right is sacred. It would be recalled that some gunmen invaded three communities of Langtang South recently killing innocent villagers among them are women, children and the elderly and several others injured while trying to escape. Hon. Go’ar while condemning the attacks called on the National Emergency Management Agency to visit the sites and provide relief materials to the affected people. Similarly, he also called on the setting up of a commission of inquiry the nomadic herdsmen would tell the whole world what really is their problem so that the issue will be addressed once and for all. To the people of the affected areas, the lawmaker appealed to them to remain calm as everything possible is being done to address the issue.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 07:23:16 +0000