Reps, others condemn killing of Nassarawa varsity students

The House of Representatives on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the killing of four students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi by soldiers.

The House described the incident as “callous and inhuman.”

In a resolution in Abuja, the House also condemned “the deployment of soldiers to quell peaceful protests by students, and indeed civilian populace.”

Soldiers reportedly shot at students in Keffi on Monday, killing four of them and wounding many others.

The students were protesting the lack of water and electricity on the campus.

A member of the House from Rivers State, Mr. Kingsley Chinda, who drew the attention of his colleagues to the incident, stated that the authorities “called in soldiers, who shot and killed four students and wounded many others.”

Chinda said the students were “merely exercising their right of freedom of speech by protesting the lack of water and electricity on the campus.”

He added, “As we speak, we don’t know how many more will die from gunshot wounds.It is callous and inhuman to shoot at unarmed students.This is condemnable.”

Members observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased.

The Joint Committee on Army/Police Affairs/National Security was mandated to investigate the killing and report back to the House within two weeks.

The House also directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, and other security agencies to “immediately take steps to forestall any further breakdown of law and order within the affected areas.”

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