By Tordue Salem
The House of Representatives Tuesday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to issue an executive order to deal with police brutality in the country.
The House made the call after adopting a motion of national urgent importance, sponsored by Rep. Sada Soli (PDP-Katsina) on the “need to address the possible breach of national security under the peaceful protests across the country:”
The House also appealed to the protesters to have faith in National Assembly and in the executive arm of government to find a lasting solution to the “lingering issues of general police misconduct.”
In adopting the motion, the House resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to interface with relevant security agencies and interest groups to ensure a peaceful end to the ongoing #EndSARS protests.
The ad-hoc committee, which would be chaired by the deputy speaker, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase, would consist of the House leader, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, the minority leader, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu and representatives of the committees on defence, police, army, airforce and navy.
Others are Committees on Interior, national security and intelligence and human rights.
While leading debate on the motion, the lawmaker expressed concern that the legitimate protests of the #EndSARS protesters are being infiltrated by hoodlums, which may result in the breakdown of law and order in the country.
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He noted that” if adequate measures are not taken to address the protests, the country may be thrown into a state of complete anarchy, resulting in needless loss of lives and properties and posing a threat to governance across the country.
“Also concerned that the continuous protests across the country have inflicted untold hardship on other Nigerians pursuing their legitimate livelihoods;
“Further concerned that the protests have impacted negatively on the nation’s economy as economic activities have been inadvertently crippled by the protests;
He was worried ” that the protests may be taking a dangerous political dimension, which could be inimical to the country’s democratic process;
He said he was also “disturbed that the protests are being hijacked by hoodlums and other unpatriotic Nigerians as there have been reports of break-ins at a medium-security correctional centre along Sapele Road in Benin, and burning of police stations all in Edo state, as well as general violence by hoodlums brandishing dangerous weapons, causing mayhem and grounding vehicular movements in major cities across the country”.
He expressed worries “for the public health and safety of the populace as the protests may escalate the spread of the COVID-19 infection across the country”.
He said, “due to the protests, people are finding it increasingly difficult to access health care and other services.”
The Motion was adopted by the House.
Vanguard News Nigeria
