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Reps urge Buhari to revisit unresolved murder cases

By Terhemba Daka, Abuja
31 July 2015   |   3:48 am
LAWMAKERS at House of Representatives yesterday called for the reopening of investigations into some past unresolved high-profile murders extrajudicial killings, urging the police to be alive to their responsibilities, especially in crime prevention and investigation.

Buhari 4• Want temporary schools at IDPs’ camps
• APC lawmaker decries exclusion of S’East in House appointments 

LAWMAKERS at House of Representatives yesterday called for the reopening of investigations into some past unresolved high-profile murders extrajudicial killings, urging the police to be alive to their responsibilities, especially in crime prevention and investigation.

However, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Imo State, Chikere Okafor, has decried the exclusion of his region in the recent leadership appointments in the lower chamber and called on the party to go beyond lip service and rhetoric to embrace every section of the country in the much touted spirit of the change.

In its resolution during plenary on a motion by Kingsley Chinda on the need for further investigation into such cases, the House, presided by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, also mandated its committees on Police Affairs, and Public Safety and National Security (when constituted) to monitor the investigations of such cases and present an interim report within four weeks.

Chinda (Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State), listed the cases as the killing of some traders at Apo, otherwise known as the “Apo Six,” the invasion and killings in Ogoniland by mobile policemen and soldiers, the military invasions of Odi in Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam in Benue State, and the killings in Obiaruku, Delta State.

Others include the cold blood murder of Dele Giwa, the killing of Pa Alfred Rewane, Bola Ige, Funso Williams, Dr. Ayo Daramola, Chukwuma Ogbueli, Marshal Harry, A. K. Dikibo and Monday Ndor.

While expressing concerns that there have been several cases of extrajudicial killings, some times by policemen and other security agencies, as well those committed by “unknown gunmen,” the lawmaker said that “efforts by successive administrations in tackling these had largely been ineffectual and short of expectations.”

In another development, the House called for the construction of temporary schools in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North East to enable the children get education.

In a motion, Asabe Vilita Bashir had sought a House resolution that the IDPs, presently occupying schools, be resettled at other places so that the schools, which have been closed to pupils for over a year, could re-open, where security permits. Another prayers adopted include that the Federal Government creates an agency akin to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to help in rebuilding communities devastated by the insurgents.

There were also commendations for the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Red Cross, individuals and charitable organisations for the interventions to the IDPs issue. South East Reps excluded in Reps’ appointments Okafor wondered why the zone is always made to suffer and left out when political considerations are made in the country.

He recalled that in 2011, the region, under the PDP, was posted an average of a million votes per state, which largely turned the table in favour of former President Goodluck Jonathan, but that in the last election, the PDP managed less than half a million votes due to the efforts of the APC faithful in the region.

Addressing newsmen at the National Assembly yesterday, the lawmaker noted that the APC in the region exhibited the highest level of courage, doggedness and fierce loyalty to the party. According to him, members risked their lives and it is worrisome that the party would now sideline them during appointments into leadership positions in the parliament.

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