Following the recent death of military troops on peace operations in Aba, Abia State, the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the federal government to take immediate action to avert a repetition.
This comes as the House resolves to do its share to prevent assaults on military troops on peace missions around the country.
At a plenary session, lawmakers directed security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the murder of three soldiers in Aba, while also urging military authorities to be cautious in their efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The House passed the bill after Abubakar Yalleman, a member of the Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency in Jigawa State, filed a motion of urgent public interest.
Moving the motion, Yalleman expressed his sorrow at what he termed as the horrific and cruel murder of military soldiers who are frequently on peace missions around the country.
The congressman stated that the act of attacking and killing military people is frequently carried out through surprise attacks on formations, including checkpoints.
He said:
“The recent brutal attack on military personnel at a checkpoint at Obikabia Junction in Aba, Abia state where soldiers were horrendously murdered by suspected gunmen is unfortunate. It is condemnable.”
Yalleman, chair of the House Committee on Police Affairs, expressed regret that the perpetrators of the act demolished and burned down the military vehicles at the checkpoint, with some troops fleeing with varied degrees of injury.
“The House is aware that these military personnel were on a peace mission in their service to their fatherland and ensuring the security of lives and property in that area. This form of attack and killing of military personnel by gunmen in the South East and other parts of Nigeria has the potential to dampen the morale of our armed forces, endangering the lives and property of Nigerians and affecting the insecurity war which has so far recorded some successes,” he added.
Adopting the motion, the House held a minute of silence for the souls of the deceased troops and directed the Committee on Defence to work with the Armed Forces to guarantee compliance and report back to the House within four weeks.
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cc: Punch Ng
