Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday condemned the killings in various part of the country.
Addressing lawmakers, following their resumption from recess, Dogara decried the violence in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Rivers, Zamfara, and Adamawa states.
Lamenting that Nigeria was now been painted with the blood of innocent people, Dogara said lawmakers must rise up and ensure the protection of lives and properties.
According to the Speaker, lawmakers can no longer fold their hands and pretend as if all is well.
He said, “Indeed at no time in the recent past has the nation’s peace and unity been so vigorously and persistently challenged. This however is the real test for true leadership.
“Our dear country is now being painted red with the blood of the innocents on account of unremitting bedlam callously promoted by cold-hearted merchants of death.
“At these moments of intense outpouring of grief across the nation, it is important that we shun buck passing and accept responsibility for these wanton killings without which we will never find a solution to this evil.
“We cannot afford to fold our hands and pretend that all is well with our country. We cannot throw up our hands in defeat.
“We have a responsibility to all Nigerians regardless of creed or ethnicity in line with the constitutionally stated primary purpose of the government we serve in, which is securing the welfare including the lives and property of our people.”
Comments