Nasarawa varsity students |
The
House of Representatives on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the killing
of four students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi by soldiers.
The
House described the incident as “callous and inhuman.”
In
a resolution in Abuja, the House also condemned “the deployment of soldiers to
quell peaceful protests by students, and indeed civilian populace.”
Soldiers
reportedly shot at students in Keffi on Monday, killing four of them and
wounding many others.
The
students were protesting the lack of water and electricity on the campus.
A
member of the House from Rivers State, Mr. Kingsley Chinda, who drew the
attention of his colleagues to the incident, stated that the authorities
“called in soldiers, who shot and killed four students and wounded many
others.”
Chinda
said the students were “merely exercising their right of freedom of speech by
protesting the lack of water and electricity on the campus.”
He
added, “As we speak, we don’t know how many more will die from gunshot
wounds.It is callous and inhuman to shoot at unarmed students.This is
condemnable.”
Members
observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased.
The
Joint Committee on Army/Police Affairs/National Security was mandated to
investigate the killing and report back to the House within two weeks.
The
House also directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, and
other security agencies to “immediately take steps to forestall any further
breakdown of law and order within the affected areas.”
Culled: PUNCH
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