By Muhammed Nasiru Adejoh.
Among other things, urging the executive arm of government to send a detachment of Mobile Policemen and the Military to Agojeju-Odo community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State was the lead prayers of Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims in his motion calling on the Federal Government to put an immediate stop to insecurity and mass man slaughter occasioned by crop farmers – herders clash in Agojeju-Odo community of Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State in early May, 2024.
To achieve those resolutions, boost the current security architecture and ensure lasting peace in the crisis prone communities of Omala Local Government Area and its environs, Rep. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims on Thursday urged the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, to ensure a rapid implementation of the House resolution for an operational military base in Omala while on a working visit to the ministry.
Rep. Halims who represents the good people of Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro Federal Constituency of Kogi State doubles as the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and while presenting the motion in May noted that “on Thursday, April 4th, 2024, Agojeju-Odo village in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State was invaded by suspected herders numbering about 200 who set the entire community in flames, killing the inhabitants indiscriminately leading to serious humanitarian crisis.”
After observing a minute silence, the house further resolved to urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to address the humanitarian crisis occasioned by the attack. It is in the backdrop of that resolution that NEMA recently released numerous relief materials for the affected persons.
It is therefore in a sympathetic determination to put a permanent end to the serial resurgence of the clash that Rep. Halims visited the Minister of Defense, His Excellency Alhaji Mohammad Badaru Abubakar in his office yesterday to intimate him of these developments and also fast-track all outstanding resolutions of the House of Representatives that requires executive bureaucracy.
Responding, the minister commended the Deputy House Leader for his insightful engagement which in his own words is the most wonderful representation he has seen in recent times. The Minister particularly hailed Rep. Halims for the follow ups which is coming at a neutral time adding that overtime, elected officials only display such vigour during election cycles.
“Tell me how much support you need from me and consider it done. I am prepared to provide it because security is a focal point of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. Give me two weeks for other necessary actions and the implementation of your resolutions will take effect,” the Defence Minister assured.
The Ministry of Defence is a Ministry of the Federal Government of Nigeria with the statutory responsibility of overseeing and supervising the Nigerian Armed Forces. The Ministry of Defence is headed by the Minister of Defence, a cabinet-level head who reports directly to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Its main mission is to provide administrative and support services, timely and effectively to enable the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria keep to duties.
