Reps’ committee probes alleged Enugu massacare

Members of the House of Representatives at a plenary. PHOTO: TWITTER/DOGARA

• Victims shun panel

The House of Representatives Committee on Army is in Enugu State to investigate alleged massacre of unarmed civilians by security agencies on Monday, 30 May 2016.

The aggrieved victims, however, shunned the panel, yesterday, forcing the committee to opt for a written presentation.

A member of the panel revealed that the victims feared they could be arrested by the heavily armed soldiers who had escorted the committee.

The victims, resident in Anambra, had in a petition sought the House’s intervention at a “neutral venue, away from interference”, hence the decision of the panel to collate testimonies in Enugu.

The panel, led by the chairman, Rimamde Shawulu, is expected to meet with security agencies and also gather testimonies from those who were allegedly attacked during the operation, preparatory to legislative action.

The development followed the adoption of a motion brought by Hon. Chukwuka Onyema and 40 others, which frowned at high-handedness and extrajudicial killings by operatives of security agencies.