Sequel to the rising cases of armed robbery attacks on state highways, the Plateau State House of Assembly on Thursday constituted a committee to provide solution to the challenge.
This came as a result of a matter of urgent public importance moved at plenary by Hon. Abubakar Ballo, representing Quaan Pan South.
Ballo had lamented the rate at which armed robbery activities claimed lives on highways in his constituency, saying it was alarming.
He noted that Quaan Pan Local Government Area of the State borders Nasarawa state.
According to him, armed robbery activities have remained a serious threat to the economic activities of the area, posing a serious challenge to the revenue profile of the state.
“Some of the biggest challenges of my constituency and indeed Quaan Pan Local Government and environs right now are the incessant armed robbery activities on our highways.
“So many lives and property worth millions of naira have been lost on daily basis because of the activities of these brigands.
“This has really affected our economic activities, because we have one of the largest yam markets in Namu, but for the fear of the unknown, people no longer come to transact in that market.
“No doubt, this has really affected the income of the people and the revenue generation profile of the state.
“So, I want to call on the security agencies to be more proactive to ensure this abnormally is drastically addressed and the government to establish emergency response units around Panda-Namu road so as to ensure quick response of the security operatives to emergencies ,“ he said.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, representing Kantana constituency, blamed the Management Committee Chairman of the area over the plight.
He said the Chairman had not made any effort to safeguard lives of the people as the chief security officer.
“’The inept attitudes of most of the appointed chairmen in our Local governments is so unfortunate; most of them if not all are doing nothing.
“A lot of lives are being lost and properties worth millions carted away on daily basis by robbers in Quaan Pan and environs but there has never been a time I get to hear the chairman condemning the act.
Gagdi who is the Deputy Speaker of the House, urged the Speaker to invite the Management Committee Chairman of Council to appear before the Assembly for explanations.
Following the motion, the Speaker, rt. Hon. Peter Azi constituted a special committee led by the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Daniel Dem, to investigate and present a report on the issue to the House on September 13th, 2016.
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