From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution urging the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and the Director General, Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate, arrest, and prosecute the criminal elements terrorising Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.
This followed a motion moved by Senator Okey Ezea, representing Enugu North Senatorial District, for the Senate to wade into the incessant killings in Uzo-Uwani.
In the emotion-laden motion, Senator Ezea brought to the attention of Nigerians the recent carnage in Uzo-Uwani LGA, especially in Nimbo community, where four people were gruesomely murdered and many others wounded.
He rallied his colleagues to condemn the dastardly act, while also urging the Senate to pass a resolution directing that the law enforcement agents be compelled to redouble efforts in apprehending the fleeing assailants.
After debates on the motion, the Senate, accordingly, resolved as follows: “That the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and the Director General of the Department of State Services investigate, arrest and prosecute the criminal elements terrorising the local government;
“That the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff urgently establish police and military presence in Uzo-Uwani local government area, to put a permanent stop to the incessant killings;
“That the Senate Committees on Legislative Compliance, Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence ensure compliance and proffer lasting solutions;
“That the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) urgently provides relief materials to the victims of the Uzo-Uwani killings to cushion the effects of the unwarranted attacks.”
Several killings in both Adani and Nimbo of the Uzo-Uwani LGA communities by rampaging herdsmen in recent times have put the people of both communities in grief and fear.
The first major attack on the LGA occurred on April 25, 2016, when 46 people were killed by the herdsmen at Nimbo. Killings and abductions have continued in the local government area despite promises by the state and federal governments to find a lasting solution to the problems.
There is currently growing tension in the local government area, and this has culminated in palpable fear that, due to the contributions of Uzo-Uwani to the food basket of the nation, the persistent killings, if allowed to fester, may exacerbate the food insecurity of the nation.
It is also feared that the abandonment of the affected communities by the locals for urban areas will add to the growing menace of rural-urban migration in the country.