By Baron Ike
President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to address the nation within 48 hours on the incessant killings of citizens by herdsmen and bandits across the country.
House of Representatives members who made the order on Thursday also requested that Buhari addresses the lower chambers on the killings.
The lawmakers made the request via a motion by Hon Mark Gbillah (PDP-Benue) during plenary.
Gbillah said: “The House is alarmed at the brazen nature of the attacks by the herdsmen and alleged bandits who attack these communities with impunity brazenly clad in military fatigues and audibly communicating with each other in Fulani as reported by eyewitness accounts from the recent attacks in Kaduna.
“Obviously emboldened by the inability of the Nigerian armed forces to curb their activities, these killers have gradually progressed from attacking remote villages at night to sacking whole towns in broad daylight displacing residents and occupying affected communities.”
Gbillah added: “No other option than to directly engage the President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces who has primary responsibility for the security and welfare of every Nigerian citizen.”
Gbillah’s motion was unanimously supported by all lawmakers when the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara raised the motion in the House for consideration.
The Speaker thereafter set up an ad hoc committee to interface with the Presidency and engage the minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, and other Service Chiefs in a public hearing to determine permanent solutions to the menace.
The lawmakers also resolved that failure of Mr.President to yield to the order within 48 hours would be considered as the president being unable to permanently put an end to the killings.