House of Representatives has called on the Executive Arm to expedite action towards the release of the
remaining 51 Nigerians who were kidnapped during the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
This was sequel to a joint motion adopted by Hon. Bamidele Salami, and ten other lawmakers during its proceedings, whereby the Federal Government was urged to set up a High-Powered Inter-Agency Panel to coordinate efforts and ensure the release of kidnapped victims across the country and assist their families too.
Hon. Bamidele Salami explained that statistics by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) indicates that about 5287 were kidnapped from 2020 to 2021 and more than 70% of the victims are mostly children, women and elderly persons who were violently attacked by the criminals.
The lawmakers described as unfortunate the conditions of the victims as the abductors of the train passengers recently released pictures and video footages of the 62 victims held hostage depicted they were in terrible and emotional conditions and were threatened to be killed, if their demands were not met by the Federal Government.
The Representatives emphasized that if nothing urgent is being done to secure the freedom of victims in captivity across the country, citizens will begin to lose confidence in the government.
In another development, the house has urged the Nigerian Police Trust Fund to rehabilitate and furnish the Soro Divisional Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps stations in Darazo-Ganjuwa federal constituency of Bauchi State which was destroyed by Boko Haram terrorists.
This followed an adopted motion by a member from Bauchi State, Alhaji Mansur Manu Soro.
Manu Soro, explained that Darazo-Ganjuwa is located in the Northeast where the challenges of Boko Haram had greatly affected their lives through the destruction of significant facilities including security outfits.
The lawmaker also expressed worries, that the construction project of Sade Police Station in Darazo Local Government Area awarded by the federal government in 2017 was abandoned by the contractor for inexplicable reasons.
While adopting the motions the Speaker, Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila directed the house committee on Police Affairs to ensure compliance on the matter.
