Nov. 9, 2021

The House of Representatives has urged all security agencies in the country to investigate and find a missing journalist, Mr Todue Salem, a reporter with Vanguard Newspaper, who disappeared on Oct. 13.

The resolution was sequel to an unanimous adoption of an Urgent Motion of Public Importance raised by Rep. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta) at the plenary on Tuesday.

Earlier, Elumelu had mentioned that Tordue, a member of the House of Representatives Press Corps reported for work on the fateful day and was last seen in Garki District before his sudden disappearance.

The lawmaker said his disappearance was immediately reported to the security agencies after all efforts by family and friends to find him proved abortive.

“In spite of official efforts by the leadership of the house to galvanise the security agencies to resolve his disappearance, there has been no headway.

“This sudden disappearance is an extension of the deteriorating insecurity in the nation’s capital and again questions the efficiency of the security operatives.

“If necessary measures are not put in place to curtail the indiscriminate disappearances of innocent Nigerians living in Abuja, the FCT would soon become a breeding ground for kidnapers and bandits, hence the need for urgent investigation,’’ he said.

The lawmaker said that he was moved by emotions to sponsor the motion when the daughter of the missing journalist cried out on his birthday when she could not call her dad as usual.

The house resolved and mandated committees on National Intelligence, Police and Interior, to interface with the service chiefs so as to find the missing journalist.

In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, mandated the committee to interface with the service chiefs and report back to the house within two weeks for legislative further actions. (NAN)