The House of Representatives at its plenary session of Thursday, 11th October 2018 urged the Federal Government to ensure relevant security agencies do all within their power to investigate missing persons from the crisis in Plateau state and adhere to the rule of law and the respect of human rights while carrying out this duty. The resolution of the House was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance moved by Hon. Edward Gyang Pwajok (APC: Plateau) titled “Need for professional investigation of the Crisis in Plateau State”.
Presenting the motion on the floor of the House, Hon. Pwajok stated that they were several reports indicating an escalation of a crisis in the Northern zones of Plateau State in recent weeks. He stated that the crisis had assumed the dimension of violent attacks; occurring serially in some communities.
Speaking further, Hon. Pwajok stated that security personnel were also casualties of these attacks. Citing references to media reports, he stated that the immediate past Chief of administration of the Nigerian Army, Rt. Major General Idris Alkali had been reported missing since 3rd September 2018 after he undertook a journey from Bauchi state to Abuja leading to a rigorous and unprecedented search for the retired General by the Nigerian Army. He added that based on intelligence reports, the Army had narrowed the search to a pond in Dura-Du in Jos where they found a Black Toyota Corolla Car among other properties of Rt. General Alkali on 29th September 2018. Hon. Pwajok, however expressed concern over the indiscriminate arrest of residents following the army’s revelations.
Following this, the House adopted the resolution that a professional investigation was needed on the Jos crisis and mandated its Committees on Army, Defence, Police and Human Rights to ensure compliance and report back in two weeks.
