Rate of killings in Nigeria becoming embarrassing—Ekweremadu

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

ABUJA—THE Senate yesterday condemned last week’s killing of a woman,Mrs Bridget Agbahime, in Kano State by some Islamic fundamentalists and charged the federal government to ensure diligent prosecution of those involved.

Agbahime was killed after she was accused of blasphemy.

The Senate, which condemned the action in strong terms, charged government to live up to its responsibility of protecting the of citizens.

The response of the Red Chamber to the action of the Kano religious fanatics was sequel to a Point of Order raised by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East, on the killing of Mrs Agbahime.

Anyanwu, who was visibly sad over the incident, said the development was a threat to Nigeria’s unity.

He condemned the killing of the innocent woman and called on the Senate to rise and condemn it.

While appreciating the governor of Kano State and the state’s commissioner of police for arresting the prime suspects, he said the culprits should be seen to have been prosecuted.

He said: “I think it should go beyond that, it should go beyond that.  We do not want a situation where someone is being detained today, after a period of time, we would not hear about that mater.

“The worst thing that could happen to a man is for his wife to be killed right before him.  I think this Senate should rise and condemn this kind of act, we are one Nigeria and we all believe in one Nigeria and we want to respect our religious affiliations in this country.

‘’This country must be united, you would agree with me that the Igbo are the most liberalized people in Nigeria because we believe in one Nigeria, we live in every part of Nigeria.

“So, I feel bad the way we are being treated. I think this Senate should rise and ask the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the culprits in this matter are brought to book.”

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, who presided over the day’s plenary, charged the Inspector General of Police and other relevant agencies of government to ensure that the culprits were prosecuted.

He said:   ‘’Let me, on behalf of the Senate, express our condolences to the family and the people of your constituency, the entire Imo State and, indeed, the entire Nigerians.

“This is because every soul matters to us as Nigerians. The rate of killing in Nigeria is becoming very embarrassing.

“We must do everything as leaders to protect lives and properties of the citizens of this country.  Every life matters to us, so we cannot continue on the path of diminishing human life.

“To ensure that this doesn’t happen again, every effort must be made to fish out those responsible so that they will face the full wrath of the law.  We believe that this might be the last of this kind of incident anywhere in Nigeria.”

He,however, did not leave the matter open for debate, a development that denied opportunity for other senators to contribute to the motion.