As the security situation in the North-East geopolitical zone and other parts of Nigeria enters an alarming stage, Nigeria’s House of Senate has expressed its concern over the terrible situation.
When discussing possible solutions to put the ugly situation under control, a Taraba lawmaker Senator Emmanuel Bwacha drew the attention of his fellow lawmakers to the inability of the security agencies to tackle the rising cases of kidnapping in Taraba State.
The Taraba lawmaker said his state is a safe haven to kidnappers. He told fellow senators on the series of kidnappings in his state.
Bwacha’s recommendation
Senator Bwacha suggested that there should be legislative backing for individuals who wanted to carry arms for self- defence.
On his own part, another senator from Zamfara State, where thousands of innocent Nigerians have been killed said the Federal Government have failed to proffer solution to unabated killings of his people by bandits.
Senator Kabir Marafa said the problem of insecurity in Zamfara State was deteriorating daily, adding that this called for urgent legislative intervention.
Casualties in Zamfara banditry
A few days ago, Zamfara State Governor Alhaji Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari spoke about the number of people that have been killed in the state, but the latest figure by a senator representing the state is alarming.
According to Senator Kabir Marafa, “Since 2011, as a result of the unabating activities of the criminals in the state, roughly estimated 11,000 males have been killed leaving behind an average of 22,000 widows and by extension, 44,000 orphans.
“These figures are just by conservative estimates because the figures are higher. Bandits and heavily armed kidnappers operate with little or no resistance in Gusau, the state capital, making less than 75 per cent of the people in Zamfara not to be sleeping in their houses.
“The situation has nothing to do with politics because my own blood sister was brutally murdered in her matrimonial home in February this year and even two of my cousins were killed outside the state capital few weeks back.”
The way forward and option for state police
Similarly, the Senate has berated the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to tackle the alarming rate of insecurity in the North-West geopolitical zone. It stressed that the introduction of state police remained the only solution to the menace.
The Upper Legislative Chamber took the position following separate motions moved by senators Bwacha and Marafa.
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said apart from the establishment of community or state police, the funding of the Nigeria Police Force was essential to tackle the menace.
“From the contributions we have had, I think it is key that we begin to look at the problem and look for long-term solutions. I think that what we did yesterday (Tuesday) in trying to strengthen the funding of the police through the Police Reform Bill is right.
“The sooner that we can pass that bill will also help us in addressing the insecurity challenges.
PIC. 9. SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DURING PRESENTATION OF THE 2016 APPROPRIATION BILL BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADUBUHARI AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY (22/12/15). 7808/22/12/2015/JAU/BJO/NAN
“But more importantly is that we must go back to what a lot of us had been advocating here that there is the need for us to have state or community police. It is the way forward. Otherwise, we will continue to run into these problems.
“On the area of oversight, there is a lot also that we need to do to ensure that we hold the security agencies accountable. And we need to move very fast in this area,” The Punch quoted him as saying
Provision for IDPs
Meanwhile, the senior lawmakers are on the path of making provision for N10bn in the 2019 appropriation bill as intervention fund to cater for the Internally Displaced Persons and other persons affected by the activities of bandits in Zamfara State.
House of Senate also urged Buhari-led government to set up an ad hoc committee to be known as a presidential initiative on Zamfara with a 10-year lifespan to manage the said funds and subsequent allocations and donations.
Recalled that President Buhari said he’s worried about the killing of innocent Nigerians in Zamfara and other parts of the country, but the opposition says he isn’t doing enough to protect lives of helpless Nigerians.
“It is ridiculous and unfair to suggest that I am not concerned about the situation in Zamfara, or doing anything about it. Ensuring the protection of the people of Nigeria is one of my primary responsibilities and functions. No other issue dominates my attention as much,”Buhari had said.
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