The House of Representatives has summoned the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdulahi Gana, over the recent accidental killing of a politician, one Ndubuisi Emenike in Imo State.
A personnel of the NSCDC was reported to have accidentally shot Emenike dead while a party was being held over an election victory.
The House in its resolution on a motion raised under matters of urgent public importance on Thursday also condemned in strong terms, the extra judicial killing of innocent Nigerians by security personnel, as it said explanations would be demanded from duo over “accidental discharge”.
Deputy Whip of the House, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha, alongside Miriam Onuoha and Ozurigbo Ugonna in the jointly sponsored motion noted with concerns that “There have been several instances where the members if the security agencies had used their firearms for purposes other than the protection of lives and properties including but not limited to discharging/shooting at public events such as rallies, weddings, burials etc, often for amusement or wild celebration”.
Moving the motion on behalf of her colleagues, Onyejiocha recalled that “on the 26th of January, 2020, one honourable Ndubuisi Emenike of Ehime Mbano, Imo State was killed by a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in what was attributed to ‘Accidental Discharge’ during a political victory party”, lamenting that “this kind of occurrences, where people are killed by security operatives who shoot indiscriminately and needlessly are now becoming a regular headline in our country”.
Calling for urgent intervention to curb the menace, Chief Whip Whip of the House, Muhammed Tahir Monguno recalled how the dreaded Boko Haram began over unlawful killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf. “If no action is taken to address and regulate security agencies on the use of firearms, more lives will be wasted needlessly and Nigerians will lose faith in the ability of law enforcement agents to handle firearms”, he said.
Several other members spoke in support of the bill before it was unanimously adopted through members’ voice votes.
