Reps Probe Arrest Of 320 Boko Haram Suspects In Rivers

House of Reps

     The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to look into the arrest of 320 persons alleged to be members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, by the Rivers State    Police Command.
     The resolution was sequel to a motion raised by Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Suleiman Kawu, who told the House that the arrest was an infringement on the fundamental human rights of the suspects.

The lawmaker explained that the people arrested were legitimate businessmen and women, mostly petty traders, who were en route Rivers State from Kano State.

He also said that some of them were merely searching for “menial jobs”.

Recall that the Rivers Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu had announced that his men intercepted a convoy of 17 buses carrying 320 passengers at the boundary between       Rivers and Imo states on January 24.

Speaking on the matter on the floor of the House during plenary, Kawu, a lawmaker from Kano State, said, “The arrest of the 320 men and women has raised several issues that           require immediate attention of well-meaning Nigerians for the security, economy and political well-being of the country and its citizens.

“Such manner of arrest and injustice portrays obvious danger capable of breeding political instability in the already overheated polity, as the suspects were known to be law- abiding  citizens, whose source of business is well known”.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who presided over the session, referred the matter to the Joint Committee on Police Affairs/Human Rights for investigation.

The House also constituted an 18-member delegation to visit Borno State to commiserate with the families of victims of recent Boko Haram attacks.

The delegation will be led by the Chief Whip, Mr. Ishaka Bawa.