Senate to FG: Declare terrorists’ leaders wanted

The Senate Wednesday urged the Federal Government to declare all known leaders of terrorist groups in Nigeria wanted.

It also called for establishment of an operational base within Danko/Wasagu and Sakaba Local Government Areas of Kebbi affected by “the current rise in security challenges.

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It urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the deployment of massive troops to conduct a rigorous operation that will bring to an end to banditry and cattle rustling in the affected LGAs in Kebbi State.

This followed a motion by Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi South) who noted that the bandits were moving in hundreds from village to village, house to house in search of cattle to rustle and people to abduct.

He said if urgent steps to tackle the security challenges were not taken, the peace-loving communities might be forced to resort to self-defence by acquiring arms and ammunition.

Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) wondered why the recently purchased Tucano aircrafts were not being efficiently used to haunt and kill the bandits.

Also, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) said “the security situation is becoming alarming not only in Kebbi but in surrounding states like Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara etc.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan urged his colleagues not to be discouraged but continue to talk about the country’s situation.

He said: “There is a limit to what we can do but we must do what we are supposed to do well. We can only do oversight to put pressure but we can’t execute. We can’t command anyone to go anywhere but what we do here is very significant.

“We should continue to debate it and follow on with some actions. We have approved significant resources, funds recently in both the supplementary budget of 2021 and the Appropriation Act of 2022 for armed forces and other security agencies.

“The time has come for all security and defence-related committees to oversight on the releases of funds to these agencies.”

In a related development, the House of Representatives yesterday called for deployment of Super Tucano fighter jets against bandits terrorizing Wasagu, Danko and Sakaba Local Government Areas of Kebbi State.

It also demanded deployment of more security agents to conduct a rigorous operation to end banditry and cattle rustling in the affected areas.

This followed the adoption of a motion by the member representing Zuru/Fakai/Danko-Wasagu/Sakaba Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Kabir Tukura Ibrahim, who said the current security strategy in those areas were not enough.

He said bandits were now moving in hundreds from villages to villages and houses to houses in Wasagu/Danko and Sakaba LGAs.

It urged the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to set up commands in the affected areas.