Benjamin Mzondu, a member of the House of Representatives has accused the Nigerian Army and other security agencies of colluding with bandits attacking Benue communities.
The allegation was contained in a motion of urgent public importance he moved on Thursday.
Mzondu said 11 persons have died in the past one month due to renewed attacks by bandits and suspected herders in Guma, Makurdi and Gwer West Local governments.
He explained that in the last attack today (Thursday), assailants operated in a location for over 2hours, despite a military base less than 5kilometer away.
Concerned about the suspicious collusion of the army and other security agencies in the attacks, as an army unit is stationed less than 5km from the location of where the herdsmen and bandits operated for more than 2hours without any intervention from security agencies,” he said.
He urged security agencies to treat the attackers as terrorists “as provided by proscription order as contained in the federal official order dated 29 September 2021 volume 108 of the activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda and other similar armed groups declared to be terrorist and illegal in any part of Nigeria, especially in the northwest and north-central,” he said.
Following his motion, the House resolved to urge the Nigerian Army, Police and other security agencies to ensure the enforcement of the proscription order as published in the official gazette 108.
The House mandated security agencies to rise and stem the rising killing of innocent persons across Benue communities, especially those bordering Nasarawa State.
