Killings: Reps Condemn Exclusion Of Kaduna, Plateau From Osinbajo Committee’s Visitation List

As Nigeria grapples with the herdsmen-farmers crisis which has led to the deaths of hundreds of Nigerians, two members of the House of Representatives have faulted the exclusion of Kaduna and Plateau states from the list of states to be visited by a committee.

The lawmakers made the claim on Thursday, February 8, while commenting on a motion brought by a member of the House, Sunday Katung, who represents the Zangon-Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.

The point of order was supported by the lawmaker representing Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Mr Adams Jagaba.

Mr Katung had in his motion drawn the attention of the House to a statement from the Office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, saying a sub-committee had been constituted to visit states affected by killings on a fact-finding mission.

The 10-man working group set up by the National Economic Council (NEC) and headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to look into the herdsmen-farmers crisis, set up the sub-committee on February 1.

The sub-committee, which has Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State as Chairman, is however expected to visit Benue, Taraba, Zamfara and Adamawa states.

This decision did not go down well with the lawmakers who believe that herdsmen-farmers clashes in Kaduna and Plateau predate that of other areas.

Mr Katung said: “The crisis of the herdsmen has its bud in Southern Kaduna and if the visitation takes place in Kaduna and Plateau, a different story will be told because peace has returned to the Plateau and peace is returning strongly to Southern Kaduna.”

The lawmaker believes the states should be included on the visitation list as it would send a goodwill message to the people who he said are already reconciling at the grassroots.

Confirming that the crisis emerged from the southern part of Kaduna, Mr Jagaba disclosed that the number of deaths recorded was more than that of Benue State.

He also said that excluding the states from the list was unfair, noting that the committee would be treating the symptoms of the crisis and not the issues on the ground.

The lawmaker, who said “we need to be included,” alleged that the security agencies are aware of the whereabouts of the culprits in Southern Kaduna.

He further stressed the need for governance to be run in a way such that every citizen would be given a sense of belonging.

The motion was consequently adopted by the House while its Committee on Public Safety and Intelligence were mandated to liaise with the Office of the Vice President to ensure the inclusion of Kaduna and Plateau on the list of states to be visited.

The committee has also been asked to report back in two weeks’ time.