This was made known in a motion raised on Tuesday by Ndudi Elumelu, the minority leader of the house.
The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian security agencies to immediately launch an investigation into the whereabouts of the missing journalist, Tordue Salem, and give a report to the house in two weeks.
This was made known in a motion raised on Tuesday by Ndudi Elumelu, the minority leader of the house.
In the motion, Elumelu raised concerns that the sudden disappearance of the journalist is “an extension of the deteriorating state of insecurity in the nation's capital which questions the efficiency of the country's security operatives”.
He also noted that if necessary measures were not taken by security agencies, the Federal Capital Territory could soon become a breeding ground for kidnappers and bandits.
He, therefore, called upon the security agencies in Nigeria to immediately launch an investigation into the journalist's whereabouts stating that the “committees on National security and intelligence, police, defense and interior should interface with service chiefs and other security agencies so as to find the missing Tordue and report back to the house within 2 weeks.”
The motion reads, “Note that Mr Tordue Henry Salem is a member of the House of Representatives press corps and he reports for the vanguard newspaper.
“Aware that Mr Salem reported for work at the National Assembly premises on Wednesday the 13th of October and was last seen in Garki district of FCT before his alleged disappearance same day.
“Further aware that his disappearance was immediately reported to the relevant security agencies as all efforts by both friends and family to reach him have been abortive.
“Worried that inspite of official effort by the leadership of the house to galvanise the security agencies at promptly resolving his disappearance; there's been no headway.
“Further worried that this sudden disappearance is an extension of the deteriorating state of insecurity in the nation's capital and again questions the efficiency of the country's security operatives;
“Concerned that if necessary measures are not put in place to curtail the indiscriminate disappearance of innocent Nigerians living in Abuja , the federal capital may soon become a breeding ground for kidnappers and bandits, hence the need for an urgent investigation.
“Resolve: That all security agencies in Nigeria should urgently investigate his whereabouts. That the committees on National security and intelligence, police, defence and interior should interface with service chiefs and other security agencies so as to find the missing Tordue and report back to the house within 2 weeks.”
Salem, who is a reporter with Vanguard Newspapers was the National Assembly (House of Representatives) correspondent for the paper.
He was last seen on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, and his whereabouts have been unknown since then.