Want Army to rescue abducted Askira Emirate members
Approve $16.230bn, €1.020bn 2018-2020 borrowing plan
By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives yesterday asked heads of Security Agencies to immediately mobilize more security personnel to communities bordering the Sambisa to avert further incessant attacks on the communities
The House equally urged the Federal Government to provide relief materials to the displaced persons and as a matter of urgency rescue four Askira Emirate Council members abducted by insurgents, Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) a week ago.
The House resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Haruna Msheila (APC-Borno),
The House also urged the Military authorities to station at least a Battalion of personnel and appropriate equipments at Mandiragrau, Askira and Garkida Communities.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Msheila expressed concern over the incident which occurred last two weeks during which three different Communities of Klangar (Ngohi Ward), Gyerha (Kida Ward) and Askira the headquarters of Askira Uba LGA, were at different times attacked by Boko Haram Insurgents.
The Lawmaker noted that the last episode was on Saturday the 13th of November 2021.
He said, the House again notes that during such attacks, private and public properties are burnt down, stores with food items looted and all people living in these areas displaced into nearby bushes with all the risks and consequences that follow. Lives are lost especially of our Gallant Security Personnel and unfortunate Civilians caught up in the middle of cross fire.
“The House is informed that still within this zone, four Members of Askira Emirate Council were abducted while trying to travel between Askira and Maiduguri, the State Capital. As at time of writing this, no news of their whereabouts, one week after their abduction, and two of them have health challenges.
“The House is concerned that though our security personnel are doing their very best, their numbers and equipments available to them are grossly inadequate to protect all the Communities on the fringes of the Sambisa forest.
“The House is further concerned that the insurgents when they attacked Askira, came with 16 Gun Trucks and 2 M-RAPS observers say, meaning kinetically they’ve dominated the region. This by no means a situation the country can handle with kids gloves,“
“The House is worried that with the Yuletide season upon us, their attacks will only increase as the Bush paths they normally follow are now dry and now motorable by their standards.
“The House is further worried that some of the Communities have already received notices from the insurgents of impending attacks,” he noted.
On his part, Hon. Ahmadu Jaha (APC-Borno) expressed displeasure over the circumstances surrounding the attacks.
“I want to emphasize on the need to change strategy. Whether we like it or not, you cannot sit in your comfort zone waiting for the insurgents to come and attack before you can repel them, let us tell each other the truth, in as much as Nigerian Army remain to provide defensive strategy, this war is not going to finish.
“We have to embark on offensive strategy by taking the war to their doorsteps so that we can destabilise them, they will not have the luxury of time, the comfort of position to come and attack communities.
“Even the successes as a result of surrendering to the Nigerian Army by some Boko members we are all aware it was not as a result of either kinetic or non-kinetic operations or firepower, it was a result of segmentary opposition between the Boko Haram members who are loyal to Shekau and some of them are loyal to the other faction.
“As a result of the demise of Shekau, people that were hitherto decided to leave insurgency, now have gotten freedom that is why they are coming to surrender.
“So if we are going to win the war, Nigerian Army must change strategy, overcome living in a single position for the insurgents to come and attack them,” Hon. Jaha lamented.
The House tasked National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately provide all the Communities affected with Relief Materials to cushion the effects of the attacks on the Citizens.
The lawmakers also urged North East Development Commission (NEDC) to provide foodstuff to all the Communities affected as most of the just harvested food crops have been looted.
The House however mandated the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to collaborate with other security outfits to ensure immediate and unconditional release of the four unfortunate members of my Constituency abducted one week ago.
