The House of Representatives has directed its Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Police, Defence and Interior to interface with service chiefs and other security agencies so as to find the missing Vanguard newspaper reporter, Tordue Salem.
The House also tasked all security agencies in Nigeria to urgently investigate his whereabouts.
The resolutions of the lawmakers were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, titled, ‘A Case of Missing Journalist, Need to Investigate Circumstances Surrounding the Disappearance,’ sponsored by the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta), at plenary Tuesday.
Moving the motion, Elumelu noted that Salem is a member of the House of Representatives press corps, reporting for Vanguard newspaper.
He said the House is aware that Salem reported for work at the National Assembly premises on Wednesday, October 13 and was last seen in Garki district of FCT before his alleged disappearance same day.
The minority leader said the House is further aware that his disappearance was immediately reported to the relevant security agencies as all efforts by both friends and family to reach him have been unsuccessful.
Read Also:
He expressed concerns that inspite of official effort by the leadership of the House to galvanize the security agencies at promptly resolving his disappearance, there’s been no headway.
He asserted that this sudden disappearance is an extension of the deteriorating state of insecurity in the nation’s capital and questions the efficiency of the country’s security operatives.
Elumelu warns that if necessary measures are not put in place to curtail the indiscriminate disappearance of innocent Nigerians living in Abuja, the federal capital may soon become a breeding ground for kidnappers and bandits, hence the need for an urgent investigation.
“This is about us seeking to find solution as to the disappearance of Tordue. And security committees of the House must live up to their expectations to interface with the service chiefs as highlighted in the resolution, they should wake up. If you live in Abuja and can’t say your security is guaranteed, it’s a big problem. This could happen to anyone,” Elumelu added.
Corroborating Elumelu’s statement, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said: “This is of a great concern to us. What touches on one of us, touches on everybody. I’m in touch with the security agencies and we remain in touch to know how far they’ve gone. We pray Tordue returns safely.”
Adopting the motion, the House gave the relevant committees two weeks to carry out the investigation and report back for further legislative action.
First published by This Day
