The Benue State House of Assembly has condemned the ongoing demolition of residential houses at Tse Poor, Nyon layout and Ugondo community in Makurdi by the Nigeria Air Force, NAF, Makurdi, with a call to halt the exercise to pave may for dialogue.
The House, on Tuesday, also invited the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals as well as the Surveyor-General to appear before it this week Thursday to address the house on the contentious matter between the NAF and the surrounding communities.
Speaker of the House, Mr. Titus Uba said the briefing will give the House an depth knowledge of the issues to enable them take appropriate steps to avoid future occurrence.
The member representing Makurdi – South State Constituency, Terwase Aondoakaa, moved the motion praying the house to request that the Nigerian Air Force authorities halt the demolition exercise to pave way for dialogue sessions aimed at resolving the contention.
He also prayed the house to appeal to affected residents Tse poor, Nyon layout to remain calm and not take laws into their hands pending the outcome of government intervention.
The motion was seconded by Geoffrey Agbatse, member representing Gwer – East state constituency.
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Earlier, members, Bem Ngutyo, representing Tarka state constituency, Williams Ortyom, representing Guma state constituency and the Majority leader, Damian Cheme, representing Gwer west constituency had also expressed displeasure over NAF action, saying it was wrong.
The affected resident of Tse poor, Nyon layout, Ugondo community had staged a peaceful protest last week Monday, September 20, 2021, against the activities of the Nigerian Air Force who demolished their houses even with court injunction.
The speaker, Mr. Titus Uba, thereafter announced the unanimous prayers of the house, calling on the Nigeria Air force to halt demolition, saying with a subsisting court injunction, such act was uncalled for.
The house also moved for second reading for a Bill on Benue State Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment and referred it to joint committee on Health and Human Services and that of Education, Science and Technology for further legislative scrutiny.
The house thereafter adjourn sitting to reconvene Thursday, September 30, 2021.
