TheCable

The house of representatives has asked heads of security agencies, including the national security adviser (NSA), to end the attacks in Anambra state.

The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution at plenary on Tuesday, after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Chris Azugbogu, a lawmaker from Anambra.

The south-eastern state has been targeted by gunmen in recent times — leading to the loss of lives and properties.

On Sunday, gunmen set ablaze an operational base of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Nnewi.

The development came days after Chike Akunyili, husband to the late Dora Akunyili, ex-minister of information and communication, was shot dead by gunmen in Anambra.

Leading the debate on the motion on Tuesday, Azugbogu said Anambra is known to be peaceful, but has now become “a centre of attacks by unknown gunmen”.

“Killings are orchestrated by mischief makers who are bent on causing tension and panic in the state ahead of the upcoming November 6 election,” he said.

“No single day passes without a reported case of robbery, abduction and outright killings and these perpetrators have no human conscience in them.

“On 30th September, my vehicle was attacked along Nnewi Nnobi road leading to the ultimate death of one of my drivers.

“There’s need to work with the security agencies with a view to containing these acts towards making the state safe for law-abiding citizens to go about their lawful businesses.

“Unless drastic measure is taken to halt and combat those elements terrorising the states, the events in Anambra will turn into a major crisis in the entire south-east and the nation.”

Contributing to the motion, Obinna Chidoke, another lawmaker from Anambra, said the situation in the state has become “worrisome”.

“It will interest you to know that the driver was killed in my constituency. It will amaze you to know that Dr Akunyili was also killed just about 10 to 15 minutes drive from my house. The other four policemen who were killed were also in my constituency,” he said.

“It is becoming very worrisome. I used to hear of this happening in other parts of the country where they say they couldn’t go home. Now, it is happening to us and we can hardly even go back home. We go to other parts or come back to Abuja.”

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house, said the “situation in Anambra is very critical”.

The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote.

The house, thereafter, directed its committee on national security and intelligence and police affairs to work with security agencies to ensure that normalcy is restored to the state.

The committee is expected to report to the house within three weeks.