By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
The senator representing Niger East senatorial district at the National Assembly, David Umaru, has lambasted the Niger state government over its inability to implement the report of the judicial commission of inquiry instituted into the clash between the military and Bosso communities 12 months after the commission submitted the report.
Umaru stated this yesterday at the opening of a sensitisation seminar organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held in Minna.
He said the refusal of the state government to make the report public and issue a white paper amounted to act of irresponsibility when those affected by the crisis were waiting for government’s action.
“I am aware that the commission completed sitting and submitted its report since December last year. It is unfortunate that the government is sitting on the report instead of implementing it to bring succor to the affected families. This is unacceptable,” he said.
While calling the government to commence implementation of the report without further delay, the lawmaker said he has initiated a bill at the National Assembly to regulate the involvement of military in civilcrisis.
He said that it was not the military but the police that have the constitutional role in restoring peace during civil crisis, adding that the police should be empowered and efficiently trained to handle such situations instead of the military.
Earlier in a remark, the acting Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Mrs Oti Ogbuara, represented by Musa Aliyu said an early warning and early response centre will soon be established in Niger state as part of measures to curb crisis in the bud in the country.
She assured that the commission will not allow any form of human rights abuse in the country and thanked David Umaru for his active involvement in resolving conflicts in Niger state and the country in general.
