Senators alarmed that the NSCDC Authorities have taken passing interest in the whereabouts of their officer who nothing has been heard of or from since 29th October 2022, observes a minute silence in honour of the Catholic Priest burnt alive in Niger State
The Senate has urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to direct a full criminal investigation into the disappearance of a Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Raymond Terwase Gaadi, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The legislative chamber equally urged the NSCDC Commandant-General to direct an internal investigation into the matter following a Motion on Urgent National Importance’ moved by Senator Emmanuel Orker-Jev (Benue North) at plenary on Wednesday.
He noted that the Deputy Commandant of the NSCDC was serving in Enugu state until October 2022, when he was posted to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. According to Orker-Jev, on getting to Bayelsa, Raymond Gaadi told his family and friends that the officer he was to take over from was not only resisting handover but threatening him. Unfortunately, two days after sending that report to his family and friends, an unidentified caller informed the family that has gone missing.
The Senate was thus “alarmed that since 29th October 2022, nothing has been heard of or from Gaadi.” Senator Orker-Jev wondered why “NSCDC Authorities that should have taken more than passing interest in the whereabouts of their officer have displayed shocking nonchalance over the matter nor was the family aware of any Police intervention on the matter”.
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In another development, the Senate has roundly condemned “the gruesome murder of Rev. Father Achi who was burnt alive in the early hours of Sunday 15th January 2023 in his residence in Paikoro LGA of Niger State.
Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger East) moved the motion to that effect on Wednesday during plenary.
The deceased priest hailed from the area and was ordained as the first Catholic Priest from Gbagi and Koro land. After his ordination on January 7, 1995, Rev. Fr. Achi was transferred to Minna, the Niger State capital, from where he was transferred to different parts.
It will be recalled that the deceased Reverend Father survived multiple attacks, and was abducted in Madalla, spending many days in captivity until his Church members paid the ransom for him to regain his freedom. He was also shot by gunmen who invaded the house where he was conducting a child naming in the same Madalla but survived it, in addition to being a survivor of the Christmas day bombing of the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State in which 44 worshippers lost their lives, and many sustained various degrees of injury.
Senator Sani Musa said, “Achi’s death speaks volumes about state of violence in Nigeria in which hundreds of innocent Nigerians lose their lives.”
The Senate, as usual, observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased priest.
