Reps to security agencies: Mobilise more against terrorists

The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the security agencies to mobilize more personnel to communities bordering the Sambisa.

It also urged that relief materials be provided to the displaced and that four Askira Emirate Council members recently abducted by terrorists be rescued.

• Nigeria’s crude oil production to hit 1.8m barrels daily Dec — Kyari
• Prices of tomatoes, pepper crash as Onion spikes in Jos

This followed the adoption of a motion by Haruna Msheila (APC, Borno), who urged the military to station at least a battalion of personnel and appropriate equipment at Mandiragrau, Askira and Garkida communities.

“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 further worried that some of the Communities have already received notices from the insurgents of impending attacks,” he noted.

 Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday observed a minute silence to mourn Brig-Gen. Dzarma Zirkushu and four soldiers killed by terrorists loyal to the ISWAP last Saturday at Askira, Borno State. 

 This followed a motion by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) who called the attention of the Senate to the incident. 

Zirkushu, who was the Commander of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Chibok, was on a reinforcement mission to Askira in Borno South which was under siege by terrorists when he was ambushed.

He was the highest-ranking army officer killed by terrorists in the North-East. 

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, also yesterday described Zirkushu and other three soldiers as “heroes and brave patriots”.

The former Sokoto State governor, in a statement, urged the federal government and the military to immortalise the fallen officers for their exceptional valour.

He said it was “devastating hearing about the outrageous attack and the resultant colossal loss to the nation”.