BEVERLY HILLS, February 12, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives Wednesday said it would investigate the arrest of 400 northerners in Yenogoa, the Bayelsa state capital, by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) as alleged in the media.
The resolution was consequent upon a motion by Hon. Aminu Sulaiman (APC Kano), who raised the alarm over the tension being generated by the news.
He drew the attention of the House to the report of Daily Trust newspaper of Wednesday, February 12 , and argued that the arrested persons could not have been detained for the simple reason of trying to ascertain their valid documents of living in Nigeria.
He cautioned the lawmakers not to view the matter with any subjective interest, as they hold the important position of addressing national issues with utmost objectivity beyond party or regional considerations.
According to him, the House has the burden to look at the perennial issues of arrest of northerners in the southern part of the country with a critical mind , saying the matter is gradually becoming a recurrent phenomenon.
He noted that about two months ago, similar arrest was made in Owerri, the Imo State capital, which, according to him, was followed with the apprehension of 300 persons from the northern extraction in Rivers State, a fortnight after the Imo incident.
The House adopted the motion, as the Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal mandated the Committees of Interior and that of human rights to unearth the matter and report back within two weeks.
Daily Trust and Peoples Daily newspapers had reported that more than 400 small-scale traders were arrested by immigration officials in Yenegoa.
SAINT MUGAGA, ABUJA
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