IGP, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar
The House of Representatives Tuesday asked the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the killing of 10 youths by Fulani herdsmen at Ogume, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
It also mandated its Committee on Agriculture to conduct an investigative hearing on the incessant fatal clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in different parts of the country.
The resolutions followed a matter of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP/Delta), member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency.
In the lead debate, Ossai disclosed that the Ukwuani people were mainly farmers who have lived in peace with their neighbours over the years.
According to him the people have also accommodated strangers from different parts of the country including the Fulani herdsmen.
The lawmaker lamented that rather than reciprocate the hospitality of the Ukwuani people, the Fulani herdsmen led their cattle to graze on the farms and yam barns of Ogume people and destroyed them in the process.
He said 10 youths who challenged them were shot dead by these armed herdsmen who subsequently fled the community.
The lawmaker urged the House to prevail on the IG to take urgent steps to apprehend the herdsmen involved in the brutal murder of the youths and ensure that they were prosecuted for their crime.
Ossai also asked the House to commiserate with the Ogume community and the family of the deceased youths.
In a separate contribution, Hon. Peter Edeh (PDP/Ebonyi), said incidents of bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers had become widespread in the country. He said unfortunately, the farmer needs the meat from the cows and the herdsmen needs the food crops produced from the farms.
Edeh said the solution lied in the ability of government to explore a way of bringing farmers and herdsmen to live peacefully together.
Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change, Hon. Eziuche Ubani, said the clashes between herdsmen and farmers had also been reported in other African countries plagued by drought and desertification.
He debunked insinuations that the crisis was due to tribal and religious intolerance among the people.
According to him, the competition for available lands for crops and grazing as well as for water was at the root of the crisis.
He said there was the need for the government to design a policy that will lead to a more effective management of available land and water resources.
In another resolution, the House has also asked the IG to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killing of one Chrisantos Nwabueze Okorie by policemen in Mushin, Lagos State.
Hon. Nnanna Igbokwe (PDP/Imo), who brought the issue to the floor of the House, said Okorie was shot dead by policemen attached to the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) and lamented that the perpetrators were yet to be brought to book.
Hon. Nado Karibo (PDP/Bayelsa) expressed disappointment that at this period when some countries were focused on protecting animal rights, the Nigeria Police were still killing citizens daily at the slightest provocation.
Similarly, Hon. Aliyu Suleiman, accused the police of not respecting human rights and demanded a law to punish trigger-happy cops.
The motion was passed and matter referred to the Committees on Police Affairs and Human Rights.
Meanwhile, the House has received two new executive bills. President Goodluck Jonathan sent the two bills via a letter addressed to the Speaker and read to the hearing of the members.
The new pieces of legislation include the Pension Reform Bill and the Chemical Weapons Prohibition Bill.
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