The House of Representatives has called on Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, to bring those responsible for the recent murders of seven people in Anambra State to justice.
According to The PUNCH, hoodlums believed to be part of a cult invaded Ifite-Awka near the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, opening fire on individuals thought to be members of a rival cult.
The violence, which claimed seven lives and injured others, sparked alarm and panic in the area.
Presenting the issue as a matter of public importance on Tuesday, Yusuf Gagdi, the representative for Kanke/Pankshin/Kanam Federal Constituency, voiced the need for accountability.
He disclosed that the victims were from Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State and were engaged in their daily work as motorcycle riders near the university gate.
“The House is disturbed that these victims, who were carrying out legitimate and peaceful services, lost their lives in such a brutal manner,” Gagdi said.
He stressed that the victims were “peace-loving citizens” with the right to live and work anywhere in Nigeria, adding, “If urgent security measures are not taken, this could escalate tensions and trigger broader unrest.”
Among the deceased were Joseph Ishaku, Jamila Haruna, and Nurudeen Yusuf, while three others were severely injured, Gagdi noted.
Other lawmakers echoed Gagdi’s sentiments, emphasizing the broader implications of the country’s ongoing insecurity. Dekeri Anamero, who represents the Etsako East/Etsako West/Etsako Central Federal Constituency of Edo State, remarked, “This is a matter of national emergency. The insecurity challenge is not isolated to Plateau State.”
Similarly, Ademorin Kuye, a representative from Shomolu Federal Constituency in Lagos State, expressed condolences to the victims’ families while noting that the incident seemed linked to a cult clash rather than targeted violence against Plateau citizens.
“This was a cult-related attack. Insecurity is a nationwide issue, affecting every region, including the South-West,” Kuye said.
Mark Esset, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, urged the House to summon security agency heads for a briefing on measures being taken to curb the rising violence.
“Despite significant funds allocated to security, we continue to see lives lost. This is unacceptable,” Esset said, pointing to reports that known perpetrators of violence remain unpunished.
Concluding the session, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu called on federal authorities to expedite a comprehensive investigation into the killings.
“We urge the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the DSS to take urgent, decisive steps to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Kalu stated.
The motion was adopted by the House, urging immediate federal intervention to investigate and prosecute those involved in the Anambra incident.
