Reopen Bola Ige, others’ murder cases —Reps

The House of Representatives passed a resolution on Thursday asking the Federal Government to reopen investigations into several unresolved high-profile killings in the country.

Lawmakers also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to take decisive actions against kidnapping, which they said had assumed an “embarrassing dimension” in Nigeria lately...


Among those on the list of victims of unresolved killings were a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, late Chief Bola Ige; Pa Alfred Rewane; Chief Funsho Williams; Chief Harry Marshall; Dele Giwa and Chief A.K. Dikibo.

The list also included Dr. Ayo Daramola, Chukwuma Ogbuefi, the ‘Apo Six’ and the deaths resulting from attacks on communities in Delta State, Zaki-Biam in Benue State as well as Odi in Bayelsa State.

The House noted that those behind the criminal acts were still moving freely.

The motion on the issue was sponsored by a member from Rivers State, Mr. Kingsley Chinda.

“The House resolves to urge the Federal Government to urgently re-open investigations into the aforementioned high-profile and unresolved murders with a view to bringing the culprits to justice.

“The House also urges the Nigeria Police Force to be more alive to its responsibilities in the prevention and proper investigation of crimes,” the motion read partly.

Chinda had told the House that the unresolved cases had emboldened killers who continued in their unlawful acts, forcing Nigerians to live in perpetual fear.

The resolution further directed the committees on Police Affairs, National Security and Public Safety to monitor the investigations and report back to the House within four weeks.

On kidnapping, the House specifically asked the IG and his men to be proactive in dealing with the perpetrators.

The motion initially sought to wade into recent rising cases of kidnapping in Ondo and Ekiti states.

However, the House later amended it to cover cases of kidnapping in other parts of the country.

There was a mild drama when lawmakers from the South-South and the South-East disagreed over the geo-political zone where kidnapping first started in the country.

While those from the South-South said the criminal act started in the South-East, their colleagues from the zone disagreed, as they traced it to the activities of the Niger Delta militants.
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