Senate tasks FG to implement report on security challenges
The Senate has urged the federal government implement the recommendations contained of its ad hoc committee on security challenges to address the spate of killings by bandits across the country.
The call was made on Tuesday by the Senate against the backdrop of two motions considered on the need to stem bandit attacks in Niger and Katsina states, respectively.
Sponsor of one of the motions, Senator Bello Mandiya (APC/ Katsina South), lamented what he described as the rising wave of coordinated armed attacks in several parts of Katsina state by murderous bandits which have led to mass killings of persons.
According to him, the said bandits engage in other forms of criminal activities such as cattle rustling, kidnapping and mass displacement of people from their ancestral lands.
The senator recalled that on May 5 and 6, armed bandits carried out multiple attacks on several communities in Faskari, Kankara, Sabuwa, Dandume, Batsari and Jibia Locka Government Areas of the state.
The attacks, according to Sen. Mandiya, led to the shooting of the Divisional Police Officer, Aminu Abdulkareem and the kidnap of the head of administration of the local government alongside his son.
“The bandits used sophisticated weapons including AK-47 during the deadly operations; in fact, they are so emboldened that they now carry out their operations on a daily basis even in broad daylight,” he lamented.
He recalled that following the spate of insecurity in the country, the Senate on January 29, set-up an ad hoc committee on the state of insecurity, highlighting the need to restructure, review, and reorganize the nation’s security architecture.
The Senate in its resolutions, accordingly urged the federal government to direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to the victims of bandit attacks.
It also urged the federal government to direct the police and the army to beef up personnel, and equipment to flash points in Katsina state.
In a related development, the Senate on Tuesday considered another motion on the need for the federal government to take drastic action to bring an end to banditry and kidnapping in Niger East Senatorial District.
Sponsor of the motion, Senator Sani Musa (APC/ Niger East) noted with concern that banditry and kidnapping has become a daily incidence in Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara states for some time now with huge consequence of loss of lives.
COVID-19: CBN to fund Nigerian researchers, institutions that develop vaccine
He expressed worry that the continuous security challenges and related attacks by bandits on towns and villages in the senatorial district have meted untold hardship on the people and subjected the affected areas to serious survival threats.
Accordingly, the Senate in its resolutions urged the federal government to establish a permanent military base at the boundary between Alawa and Uregi areas of Shiroro and Rafi Local Government Areas of Niger state to restore confidence in the security and safety of the affected communities.
The Senate also called on the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, to form a military operation similar to ‘Operation Sharan Daji’ to mop-up the bandits in their abode at Bakacin Hatsi along Madaka town and Uregi, the Alawa axis as well as Kamuku Forest in Niger state.
Related to this topic:
You must be logged in to post a comment.