The House of Representatives on Thursday unveiled plans to conduct investigation into the alleged killing of 97 Nigerians in the ceded Bakassi Peninsula, by Cameroonian Gendarmes.
The resolution was passage d following the adoption of a motion of ‘matters of urgent national importance’ sponsored by Babatunde Kolawole titled: “Alleged killing of 97 Nigerians by Cameroonian Gendarmes .”
In his lead debate, Kolawole (APC-Ondo), who called foe the intervention of the House, noted that: “last week there were several media reports that 97 Nigerians have been killed in Bakassi by Cameroonian Gendarmes because they could not afford a N100,000 levy on each fishing boat.
“This is in spite of the clauses in the Green Tree Agreement signed between Nigerian and Cameroonian Governments which protect our citizens in the ceded areas from harm.
“Apart from this recent attacks, there have been reports of harassments, rape and killings of Nigerians by the Gendarmes over the years with the Nigerian government seemingly doing little or nothing to stop it.
“If nothing is done to stop this ugly development, other Nigerian lives would be at stake as the Gendarmes may continue to kill Nigerians at will without fear of recriminations,” the lawmaker lamented.
Kolawole said that though there are reports that the Federal government has summoned the Cameroonian Ambassador over the killings, there is need for the House as the People’s parliament to send a clear signal that “we will not sit and watch while the lives of our citizens are wasted with impunity.”
Other lawmakers who spoke in favour of the motion, decried the attitude of the Cameroonian Gendarmes perceived use of excessive force against Nigerian citizens in the ceded Bakassi region.
While reacting to the motion, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, chairman, House Committee in Foreign Affairs, explained that the issue is still in the realm of speculations and hence it should investigated before coming to a definitive conclusion.
While ruling on the motion, Speaker Yakubu Dogara referred the motion to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje for further legislative action.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
