By Gift Chapi Odekina
The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police to ensure thorough investigation into the invasion of five communities in Ahiazu LGA, that commenced in the early hours of Saturday, February 12, 2022.
The house mandated security agencies to unravel the perpetrators of the act,the reason for the invasion, number of lives and properties destroyed, their offenses, and why communities not at war were razed without recourse to the excruciating effect of rendering the innocent homeless as well as depriving the living their breadwinners.
The resolutions followed a motion moved by Rep. ….during plenary session in Abuja.
Moving the motion, ….noted that Ihitteafoukwu, Umu Okirika, Oparanadim, Mpam, and Ogbor Umeze in Ahiazu LGA, have been peaceful and quiet Communities in Ahiazu Mbaise/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency, whose citizens are known for agrarian values and industriousness.
He also noted that with serious concern, the alleged invasion, siege, unlawful arrest and wanton destruction of lives and properties belonging to indigenes of the five Communities, which commenced in the early hours of Saturday, February 12, 2022, by armed men suspected to be law enforcement agents.
“Aware that the primary responsibility of law enforcement agencies is to maintain law and order and not to wantonly destroy lives and properties or other actions that are inimical to fundamental human rights;
“Also aware that such gestapo invasion, siege and wanton destruction of lives and properties after sporadic shootings is expanding in scope and frequency in the Country especially in Imo State, South East of Nigeria;
“Concerned that Nigerians are increasingly losing hope and confidence in the Nation’s law enforcers due to high-handedness, unethical conducts and total disregard for rule of law and engagements;
“Also concerned about the news of averted bloodshed across the Communities due to timeous intervention of some community leaders who persuaded youths against coming to the defense of their lives and properties;
“Believes in the fight against unlawful activities or any form of criminality, but must be anchored on rule of law as enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended, especially when human lives and properties are involved;
“Worried that the danger inherent in one-sided narrative as often packaged by law enforcement agents in such circumstances without thorough investigation is not only unhealthy for democracy, but also an intolerable affront to fundamental human rights, especially where law enforcement agents can recklessly invade, attack, destroy and maim before coming up with some frame-up to rationalize extra judicial activities;
“Also worried that further delay in investigating matters of this nature may not only send complicating signals, but also be counterproductive at the long run, especially as law enforcement agents, just like their counterparts around the world, do not have the inalienable right to act lawlessly, waste lives or plunder properties of the people they are paid to protect,” he added.
The House therefore mandated its committees on Police Affairs and Army to ensure compliance on the matter.
