Abuja — The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its committees on Human Rights, Police Affairs and Justice to investigate a video clip that has been airing on Al-Jazeera, an international news station which showed extra judicial killings of defenceless cripples and underage citizens by men of the Nigeria Police Force, during the Boko Haram sectarian violence in Borno State, last year.

The extra judicial killings which was captured as they allegedly took place while the insurrection was being managed by the security agents was aired as part of attempts to counter claims by the Nigeria Police that the report of Amnesty International indicting the police of extra judicial was not true.

Considering a motion moved by Hon Abdulrahman Suleiman Kawu, under a motion of urgent importance that sought to condemn the acts, the House resolved that an investigation should be carried out to ascertain the true situation before any recommendation is made.

Announcing the resolution, the presiding officer, Hon Usman Bayero Nafada said, "there is need for fair hearing. We have committees in charge of issues of Police and Human Rights and it will be out of place to direct the executive to set up a commission of enquiry".

"Let us as a House find out what happened and advise on what next step to take on the matter".

Leading the debate on the motion, Hon Kawu said that action of the Nigeria Police show by Aljazeera had further dented the image of the country and should be condemned.

He told his colleagues, "If what we watched on the international news channel was true, then the Nigeria Police had deviated from the statutory duty of protecting the people.

"What I saw on Aljazeera television is horrible', he continued, "I saw how people were lined up and shot by police, I saw young men and women, I saw cripples, I saw the underaged. Police just opened fire on them; I could not believe my eyes. This is why I think we as parliament must look into this killings. It is now on international channel and our image as a nation is at stake".

Hon Faruk Lawan noted in his contribution that though there have been evidence in the past that show incidences of extra judicial killings, nothing concrete has been put in place to punish the culprits.

He said, "Allegations have been made anytime there is crisis anywhere in the country. Even when there was crisis in Jos recently, many people testified that there were many extra judicial killings there but we always pretend that there is nothing going on".

In his contribution, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila said what makes it more unfortunate is that there is a false impression that the government endorsed the killings, adding that it was sad that the same constitution which brought the Police into existence is the same that they are flouting.

Meanwhile, the chairman of House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon Abdul Ningi, described what the police did as a heinous crime against humanity that must be investigated and queried why the media has not been active in addressing the issue.

Other members who spoke during the debate included Hon Yakubu Alebiosu, Seriake Dickson, Emmanuel Jime, Samson Osagie ,Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Lanre Agoro and they all called for an exclusive investigation into the action of the police in the Boko Haram saga.