Lawmaker Urges Inquiry Over Communal Disturbances

An Enugu State legislator,

Mr John Ukuta (PDP-Uzo-Uwani), has enjoined the authorities in the state to investigate the June 8 violence in Igga community, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area.

Presenting a motion of urgent public importance during a plenary session at the state House of Assembly last Thursday, Ukuta drew the attention of the members to a “a brutal show of force” by a group of soldiers.

He alleged that the group was accompanied by some vigilante men from Umueje community in Anambra.

Ukuta said the attack resulted in sporadic shooting and killing of one Oyibo Obiora, a 21-year old indigene of the community.

“The invading group succeeded in sacking the entire community whose members ran for their lives during the shooting and as I am speaking now, some of them have yet to return.’’

In a six-point prayer unanimously adopted by the legislators, Ukuta demanded among others, that Gov. Chime should institute a panel of inquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the attack.

He urged the Assembly to ask the General Officer Commanding the 82 Division, Nigerian Army, to fish out soldiers involved in the incident and hand them over to the police for prosecution.

The motion also urged the state Commissioner of Police and the SSS to investigate the matter and establish who authorised the attack.

It requested the constitution of a joint police and army patrol to the community to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

The motion, co-sponsored by five others, was unanimously adopted while the assembly Committee on Security was urged to follow up the matter.

The Speaker, Mr Eugene Odo, expressed sympathy to the victims and those traumatised by the attack.

He urged the lawmakers to articulate areas of Nigeria’s constitution that required amendments and forward their memoranda for submission to the National Assembly before next week.

He said in line with the on-going constitution amendment, the South East zone inaugurated a 30-

man committee headed by Sen. Uche Chukwumerije to articulate its position.