The House of Representatives has resolved to invite Chief of Defence Staff General Leo Irabor and Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant‑General Farouk Yahaya to address the alleged assault on member Kpam Sokpo by soldiers from the 401 Special Forces Brigade in Gboko, Benue State, on 18 March 2023. The House condemned the attack at the Old Barn Hotel, Gboko, and the assault on its guests, including Sokpo, by members of the Nigerian Army.
Benue representative Mark Gbillah moved a motion at the Wednesday plenary calling for an investigation of the incident. The motion was adopted unanimously, urging Irabor and Yahaya to launch a comprehensive inquiry, obtain evidence from civilian witnesses, and identify the soldiers responsible for the “mayhem.” The House also resolved to require the chiefs to appear before the chamber to:
(a) explain the circumstances of the unprovoked attack and why the soldiers lacked proper identification or informed civilians of their mission;
(b) clarify the military’s rules of engagement during election monitoring and other civilian interactions, especially in light of the extrajudicial killing of two young men by the same 401 Brigade on 18 March 2023 for alleged ballot snatching; and
(c) brief the House on actions taken by military authorities to investigate both the assault on Gboko residents, including Hon. Kpam Jimin Sokpo, and the shooting deaths of two persons on the same day.
The House Committee on Army was mandated to ensure compliance with these resolutions and report back within two weeks.
In his motion, titled “Need to Investigate the Assault on Residents of Gboko and Guests of Old Barn Hotel, Gboko by Men of the 401 Special Forces Brigade of the Nigerian Army,” Gbillah cited Section 217(2)(a)‑(d) of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the Army’s primary duties: defending Nigeria from external aggression, maintaining territorial integrity, suppressing insurrection, and aiding civil authorities to restore order as prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. He also referenced Section 8(3) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A20 (2004), which authorises the Armed Forces to maintain public safety and order.
Gbillah expressed the House’s deep concern over the rising tide of military and police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and attacks on unarmed civilians. He recounted the events of 18 March 2023 at the Old Barn Hotel, where, at about 2:30 a.m., over 20 soldiers from the 401 Division entered the hotel in army trucks, dressed in uniform but without nametags or any personal identification. The soldiers ordered everyone to gather, squat on the ground, and subjected them to cruel, inhuman treatment. During this, a soldier accosted and slapped the Honourable Gbillah despite his introduction as a serving member of the House, and ordered his subordinates to continue the assault.
According to Gbillah, the soldiers pounced on Sokpo and others with guns, inflicting serious injuries to the head, face, shoulders, chest, back, arms and legs. He further alleged that the same team was responsible for the extrajudicial killings of at least two persons in Gboko on the same day. Gbillah stressed that the House must reinforce its statutory role in ensuring the security and welfare of the people, which is the primary purpose of government.
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