By Andrew Oota
Senate has called on the service Chiefs, namely Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff Gen Taoreed Lagbaja and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to urgently deploy troops to defend the people Niger State from activities of bandits and kidnappers .
Senate expressed concerns that the rising cases of attacks on unarmed civilians in the state have reached an alarming rate ,stressing that only a military formation will address the killings .
This followed a motion sponsored by Sen Sani Musa (Niger East) on the urgent need for federal government to deploy troops and other security apparatus to immediately bring an end to the menace of insurgency and terrorism in Niger State and other parts of Nigeria.
The Senate however, urged the chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police to as a matter of surgency direct for the establishment of a permanent military and police command base at the axis adjoining Shiroro and Rafi Local Government areas respectively and to redesigned the modus of operandi of the military operations within the affected areas so as to curtail the escalating insecurity.
The Senate also direct the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NEMA to as a matter of national emergency provide relief materials and medical support to the victims immediately.
Musa, while presenting his motion, said the Senate have passed several resolutions, set up Ad-hoc Committee on Security, held National Security summits and declared every support at bringing an end to the persistent insecurity in our nation, we have appropriated monies and also advances numerous steps to support our nation’s security agencies, yet insecurity has continued to elude the nation.
“Also Note that for seven years now Niger East Senatorial District of Niger State have come under constant and sustained multiple deadly attacks by heartless, venomous and hydra headed Boko Haram terrorists who are always heavily armed with assorted sophisticated and dangerous weapons unleashing their horror on our innocent populace.
“Further notes that negative effects of atrocities committed by these heartless monsters in the period under review include among others, total collapse of the local economies of the affected victims, total collapse of educational system in the affected areas, famine due to collapse of agricultural activities, displacement as a result of desertion of crisis prone areas, depopulation as a result of wanton deaths, social vices such as drug abuse and thuggery emanating from struggle for survival, trauma arising from serial rape cases and inhumane, cruel and deadly subjugation. Unfortunately, these repeated attacks are taking place amidst absence of slightest hindrance, resistance or confrontation from the authorities concerned.
“Cognisance that about 42 communities across the two local government areas of Shiroro and Munya Local Government have so far fallen under the Boko Haram control with about 5,000 villagers already displaced in the last three days. They have kidnapped many and their wives seized from them and forcefully attached to Boko Haram members. Three military camps in Allawa, Bassa and Zagzaga in the two local government areas have been sacked and some security personnel killed by the insurgents in the last one month of renewed attacks
“Aware that the Boko Haram terrorist have mounted their flags in many of the villages they have captured such as Kaure, Alawa and Magami. Inhabitants of these war-torn parts of the State have been abandoned and left to their fate thereby compelling them to wallow in perpetual agony and abject misery.
“Aware also that primary schools in Gwada, Kuta, Pandogari and Minna have hurriedly been turned to IDP camps following the sacking of nearly 5600 villagers from their ancestral homes in Shiroro, Rafi and Munya local government areas in the last few weeks by bandits who raided the towns and villages. And what this means is that if they can launched attacks without hindrance in Niger East Senatorial District then I don’t see how we can be safe Abuja anymore.
“Observe that before the recent Bandits struck Kagara headquarters of Rafi Local Government, Madaka-Gari, Maikujeri, Magami, Zangouru, Bassa, Gusoro, Galadiman Kogo and Kokki villages where all attacked with casualties as more than 46 people were killed. And between March 2021 to date same terrorist have launched serial attacks on daily basis to adjoining villages of Alawa, Shakodna, Chiri, Kwaki, Ajatayi, Gwassa, Barden Dawaki and Gyammamiya communities in Munya and Shiroro local Government Areas of Niger State killing many innocent people which also resulted to the lost of more than 25 Gallant soldiers, mobile policemen and other security personnel, while more than 16 civilians were killed, many others unaccounted and leaving over 2300 displaced, while over 1500 are now sheltered at Primary Schools turned temporary camps at Erena, Galadima-Kogo and Zumba. The number of persons said to have been killed by bandits in Niger East are over 475 between January 2020 to date.
“Aware that the Federal Government had made frantic efforts in curbing the menace through various Operations to tackle cases of terrorism, banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping across Nigeria, but yet the expected return of peace in our land is unattainable. And this call for a total review of the nations security architecture as proposed in the report of the senate ad-hoc committee on Security.
“Also aware that confirmed reports ensanating from those affected areas of Allawa and Bassa towns in Shiröra local government, Niger State indicated that the Joint Security Task Force stationed there have been withdrawn.
“Further aware that no reason have been advanced for the withdrawal but observers believe it will not be unconnected with the casualties suffered by the ISTF during last unfortunate invasion and ambushing of the troops stationed at Alawa by the heartless, venomous and hydraheaded terrorists.
“Worried that the continuous security challenges and related attacks by terrorist on towns, villages and communities in Shiroro, Rafi and Munya Local Government Areas of Niger State have meted untold hardship on the people and has subjected the affected areas under serious survival threat. If this menace is not drastically addressed, the attacks will continue and the danger is that it may escalate further to other communities. Which are mostly farming communities and they are farmers, may desert their farms this season,” he added.
