By Khalid Idris Doya
The House of Representatives has called on the Inspector-General of Police IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu to immediately deploy adequate investigative and intelligence resources to Darazo local government area of Bauchi state following a violent clash between farmers and herders in Lanzai and neighbouring Dosho communities that claimed nine lives.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Mansur Manu Soro (Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency) during plenary on Tuesday, pursuant to Order 8 Rule 5 of the House Standing Orders.
The House urged the police to identify, apprehend and prosecute all individuals connected with the violence, regardless of their status or affiliation.
Lawmakers also called on the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to intensify intelligence gathering, threat assessment and early warning operations in the affected communities and surrounding areas to prevent further attacks and reprisals.
In addition, the House appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, including emergency relief materials, temporary shelter, food supplies, medical care and psychosocial support for affected victims.
Leading the debate, Rep. Soro recalled that the violent clash, which occurred last Wednesday in Lanzai and nearby Dosho communities, resulted in the death of nine persons, injuries to several residents, destruction of property and the burning of about 50 residential huts and other means of livelihood.
He expressed concern that the incident had displaced many families, leaving women, children and the elderly exposed to harsh humanitarian conditions while escalating tensions within the affected communities.
According to him, the recurring farmer-herder conflicts across various parts of the country continue to pose serious threats to national security, agricultural productivity and economic development.
Soro noted that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), places a responsibility on government to protect the lives and property of citizens and promote their welfare.
He stressed that timely intervention by security agencies, humanitarian organisations and conflict-resolution mechanisms is essential to preventing further escalation and restoring confidence among affected communities.
The lawmaker warned that failure to swiftly investigate the incident and bring perpetrators to justice could encourage reprisals and trigger further violence.
Consequently, the House urged the Federal Government, through the NEDC, to support the reconstruction of residential structures, community facilities and livelihoods destroyed during the crisis.
The lawmakers also called on the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to accelerate the implementation of sustainable livestock management policies, grazing control measures, ranching development programmes and farmer-herder dispute resolution frameworks in Darazo local government area.
Furthermore, the House mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, and the NEDC to monitor compliance with the resolutions and report back within six weeks.
As a mark of respect for the victims, the House observed a minute's silence in honour of those killed in the incident and extended its condolences to the people of Lanzai and Dosho communities through the Bauchi State Government.
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