The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to rescue Pastor Bulus Yikura, who is allegedly up for execution by the Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday.
Yikura has been in the custody of the Boko Haram insurgents for over two months.
The call by the House was sequel to the unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved at the plenary on Tuesday by the lawmaker representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in Borno State, Ahmad Jaha.
However, the House resolved to “intimate the Federal Government to do everything possible to secure the release of the victim before the deadline.”
It also urged the government to come to the aid of families who lost their members and those whose houses were burnt and food items carted away, to alleviate their suffering.
Stating the motion, Jaha said, “The House is worried by the continuous closing of the one-week period given by the insurgents, which expires on Thursday, March 4, 2021. The House is concerned that at the expiration of the deadline, anything can happen to Pastor Bullus Yikura.”
Recall that the insurgents raided Pemi community, about 20 kilometres from Chibok, in Borno State on December 24, 2020, during which the cleric was taken away.
The pastor, in two videos released by the sect in December 2020 and January 2021, pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum; and church leaders to rescue him.
The insurgents gave the federal government a one-week ultimatum to secure Yikura’s release or have him killed.
In one of the videos, the clergy, who spoke in Hausa and identified himself as a worshipper at the EYN LCC, said the countdown to his execution started on February 24 and ends on March 4.
