A legislator said that the arrested persons were petty traders and menial job seekers in the state.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated its committees on Police Affairs and Human Rights, to investigate the arrest of 320 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect in Rivers.

This resolution emanated from a motion moved by Suleiman Kawu (APC-Kano), the deputy minority leader which was adopted without debate.

Mr. Kawu said on January 27, the Police arrested 320 women, men and children in a convoy of 17 buses at the boundary between Rivers and Imo.

He said that the arrest had raised several issues that required immediate attention of every well-meaning Nigerians.

The legislator maintained that the arrested persons were petty traders and menial job seekers in the state for legitimate business.

Mr. Kawu stressed that such arrest and injustice portrayed obvious danger capable of further overheating the polity.

He said that section 41 of the 1999 Constitution amended guarantees every Nigerian the right to move freely within the country.

Mr. Kawu said that the Police in Rivers had abandoned its responsibility of protecting the people to harassing innocent people.

In another development, Joseph Kigbu (APC-Nasarawa) has defected to the PDP.

His defection was contained in a letter read by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, on the floor of the House.

(NAN)