By Paul Effiong, Abuja
Bill seeking to amend the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Act 2004 yesterday scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.
The expected amendment and expected legislation, according to the synopsis of the Bill, is to provide at least 15 percent of women representation in the recruitment of the corps.
Sponsor of the Bill, Kafilat Ogbara expressed happiness over the passage of her Bill, which she said would enable NSCDC to provide and maintain gender compliance.
She added that the Bill, when finally passed and assented to by President Bola Tinubu, would ensure effective and responsive compliance in the recruitment, training, marital status, posting and discipline of the corps and establishment of a unit to monitor and maintain records of gender responsive compliance programme.
The House also inaugurated a Special Ad-hoc Committee on Plateau Killings with the mandate to conduct investigation on the continuous killing of people including the recent murder of 13 travellers enroute Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State and report back all findings within 14 days.
Plateau Killing: Reps Direct IGP, DSS, Others To Apprehend Perpetrators
By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives has mandated the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Olufemi Oloyede, Inspector- General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun among other security agents to thoroughly investigate and arrest the perpetrators of the brutal killing of 13 persons in Plateau State and bring them to justice.
The House also urged the federal government to enhance inter-state security coordination to ensure the safety of travellers and prevent further occurrence, while directing the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to immediately provide humanitarian support to the affected families and the survivors currently receiving treatment in different hospitals.
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved during plenary yesterday by Sadiq Ango Abdullahi.
In his lead debate, Abdullahi expressed deep concern over the tragic killing of 13 innocent travellers who were coming from Unguwan Rimi Community, Basawa in Sabon Gari Local Government of Kaduna State on Friday, June 20.
The lawmaker disclosed that the travelers missed their way while travelling to attend a wedding ceremony in Mangu Local Government Area, adding that they were unarmed civilians on a peaceful journey when they were attacked, mobbed and killed by unidentified persons, leaving their families devastated;
The lawmaker raised concern that this horrific act is part of an increasing trend of insecurity and inter-state violence that is threatening the freedom of movement, peace and unity of Nigeria.
Lawmakers therefore expressed worry that despite previous resolutions of the green chamber on insecurity and repeated assurances from security agencies, attacks of this nature continue unabated, raising serious questions about the adequacy of the security architecture and the protection of lives and property.
Consequently, the House lamented that the continued failure to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of such heinous crimes is emboldening criminal elements and undermining public confidence in government’s ability to provide security and justice in that area and others in the country where such crimes continue to happen without any action taken against the perpetrators.
Citing relevant sections of the constitution such as Section 14(2) which states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” the House mandated the existing ad-hoc committee to launch a special investigation into the recurring killing of travellers on the same route and submit its report within 14 days.
