The Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, has urged protesting indigenes of Abuja to remain calm, while the Senate investigates alleged clash with the Military which reportedly led to the death of one person.
Aduda, who made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said the matter was already before the Senate.
He said the matter “has to do with the invasion of the Military on some farmlands in Tunga Maje, which cost the lives of some of our people.
He said: “I have raised the matter before the Senate in plenary and I will continue to talk to the people to be law abiding since I have raised it in senate for justice to be done.
“The Senate has asked the Chairman Senate Committee on Defence to immediately move in, get to the military authority and get back to the Senate.
“I urge them to remain calm while the committee carries out its assignment and the senate intervenes.”
In a separate interview, Senaor Shehu Sani decried that Abuja indigenes had suffered discrimination, marginalisation, violence and dispossession.
He called on relevant authorities to wade into the matter, to find lasting solution that would ensure the protection of the lives of Abuja indigenes.
Sani said: “I promise that I will speak for them on the floor of the Senate.
“From what I know, the land in question has been designated as military land. I believe these are issues that can be solved with dialogue.
“What needs to be verified is to know if the people have been adequately compensated.
“We cannot go about killing our people and complain when South Africans kill Nigerians.”
He commended the indigenes for not taking laws into their hands, adding that as an advocate of the people, he would play his part in ensuring justice at all times.
He said: “The protest is good, I support the protesters. In fact if I am not in the Senate I would have joined them.
“If I was delegated to go and speak with them by the leadership of the Senate, first of all is to identify with the people who have given up their land for us to found a new capital.”
A group of people under the aegis of Coalition of Federal Capital Indigenous Groups, on Thursday staged a protest at the National Assembly in Abuja over the alleged killing of one Hamza Haruna by security operatives.
They claim that their lands were being acquired and farm produce destroyed by “invaders”.
Meanwhile the senate has mandated its Committee on Defence to investigate the matter.
Trending
- Just in: Tinubu arrives Netherlands on state visit
- My purported suspension from APC, African Magic drama — Ganduje
- Hilda Baci reacts as VeryDarkMan accuses her of fraud
- Men are crazy, but I still want one in my bed — Tiwa Savage
- Sokoto: Gov Aliyu dethrones 15 traditional rulers
- N14b moved in one hour by Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs — EFCC
- Banks lose over N8b, others $706m to Yahoo Yahoo boys — EFCC Chairman
- FG recovers N57b out of N5.2t debt from 10 MDAs — Official