Reps drags SARS, Army into killing of lecturer, others during Rivers polls, Dogara reacts

- The House of representatives has taken a second look into the violence that characterised the general elections in Rivers state

- A lawmaker, Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), in his motion stated that the polls witnessed the killing of one Dr Ferry Gberegbe, a Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic lecturer, among others

- Reacting to the motion, Speaker Yakubu Dogara directed the House committees on Army, human rights, justice as well as police affairs to look into the matter

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, April 11, commenced investigations into the killings of Dr Ferry Gberegbe, a Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic lecturer, and others during the 2019 general elections in Rivers.

This was sequel to a motion under matters of public importance by Rep Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) at a plenary presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara at the National Assembly, Abuja.

The House, which condemned the killings, also observed a minute silence in honour of the departed souls, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Moving the motion, Chinda noted that during the elections, which was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) there was palpable presence of heavily armed men of security agencies, including the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and Nigerian Army in Rivers and across the country.

He said the polls were characterised by clear cases of harassment and intimidation of voters and electoral officers, coupled with sporadic shootings by the security personnel aimed at instilling fear in the people.

The lawmaker said it was disheartening that though government’s duty was to protect lives and property as enshrined in the constitution, the security agents allegedly resorted to killing the innocent, unarmed civilian voters.

”The House notes that during the said elections, there were reports and viral video clips of cases of intimidation, harassment, torture, and shooting to death of innocent, unarmed civilian voters.

”These were done by men of FSARS and the Nigerian Army in several parts of Rivers, including Bori, Abonnema in Akuku Toru, Bonny, Emohua, Ikwerre and Okrika Local Government Areas.

”The House is aware that government owes its citizens the duty of protecting and securing their lives as enshrined in SS. 14(2)(b) and 34(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

”The House is also aware that on or about March 9 at the Khana Local Government Area Collation Centre, Dr Ferry Gberegbe, a lecturer with the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori in Rivers, was shot in his lower abdomen by men of the FSARS led by ACP Akin Fakorede and he died a few days later from the gunshot wound.

”Also, at Degema, one Mrs. Ibisaki Amachree was shot dead by men of the Nigerian Army,” he stated.

Chinda, who said the Nigerian Army had no mandate to participate in elections, described the killings in Rivers as ”one too many in cases of extra-judicial killings across the country.”

He said the killings, if not immediately checked, could lead to anarchy and cause despondency in the minds of teeming civilian Nigerian masses.

He said the killings by these security agencies was not only callous and inhuman, but had reduced the image and reputation of the Nigerian army before the rest of the world and compromised the national security.

PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!

When the motion was out on a voice vote by the speaker, Dogara, the lawmakers unanimously adopted it.

Dogara, therefore, mandated the House committees on Army, human rights, justice as well as police affairs to investigate the matter. He urged them to report back to the House within two weeks for further legislative action.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that about 15 people were shot dead in Rivers state during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The victims lost their lives in violence that erupted at Akuku Toru local government area of the state. According to the report, the voting process was affected by the development.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service!

Suspected political thugs hijack ballot materials in Rivers state | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng

from Nigeria News today & Breaking Naija news ▷ Read on Legit.ng 24/7 http://bit.ly/2Iccz9W
via EDUPEDIA24/7

Nigerian Academy Of Science Inducts First Female President

The Nigerian Academy of Science has inducted a professor of Parasitology/Epidemiology, Ekanem Ikpi Braide, as its 19th President on Thursday. In a statement issued by Oladoyin Odubanjo, the Executive Secretary of the Academy, Braide is the Academy’s first female President in 44 years of existence. It read, “Braide was a member of the national committee that achieved the laudable feat of guinea worm eradication in Nigeria. “She has a rich professional experience as a researcher and an administrator. In July 2010, Professor Braide was honoured by the President of Nigeria with the award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) for her contribution to disease control in Nigeria. “She was nominated by the Honourable Minister of Health to serve in the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee on COVID-19 Health Sector Response (MEACoC-HSR). “Professor Braide served as Vice-Chancellor, Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) Calabar, Nigeria (2004 to 2009) and as P...

NLNG Signs Letter Of Intent On Delayed Gas Expansion Project

The Nigerian Natural Liquefied Gas LTD has signed a letter of intent for the engineering, procurement and construction of its long held up Train Seven project. In a statement released by the company on Wednesday, it said that the $10bn project will be executed by a consortium of Italian firm Saipem, Japan’s Chiyoda and South Korea’s Daewoo. The statement reads, “The project will form part of the investment of over $10bn including the upstream scope of the LNG value chain, thereby boosting the much needed Foreign Direct Investment profile of Nigeria.” Managing Director of NLNG, Tony Atta, said in 2018 that the Final Investment Decision would be made in the fourth quarter of that year. This did not however, materialize. According to the release, the project will have a four to five-year execution time after the signing of the FID. The project is expected to add an extra 8 million tons per annum of gas to the 22 mtpa currently exported by the company. Oil News AddThis :...

Former Maritime Agency Boss, Buba Galadima, Accuses AMCON Of Witch-hunt After Property Takeover

A former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Agency, Buba Galadima, has accused the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria of witch-hunt after the agency took possession of his business and assets on Tuesday in Abuja. Galadima, an ardent critic of President Muhammadu Buhari, claimed that he did not borrow money or have unpaid debt with Unity Bank, which lodged a complaint against him and occasioned AMCON’s move on Tuesday. The properties taken over include House No. 15, Addis Ababa Crescent, Wuse Zone 4, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and House No. 4, Bangui Street, Wuse 2, also in Abuja. Reacting to the situation, Galadima said, “This is an attempt to disgrace and break me down. This is injustice and an attempt to humiliate me. "But I am unbreakable and they can never silence me. They sacked me and over 50 people that sleep in the apartment. "We don’t know where to go. We will remain on the streets. We will remain on the streets until God provi...

EDUPEDIA247

Search This Blog