Members of the House of Representatives have expressed their anger over the rising spate of insecurity in Kaduna State and other parts of the country, asking the federal government and security agencies to live up to their duties of securing the lives of Nigerians.
The lawmakers expressed their anger and frustration over the current security situation while contributing to the debate on a motion on the urgent need to address rising bandits’ attacks, kidnappings and wanton killings across communities in Birnin Gwari and Giwa areas of Kaduna State by Rep Shehu Balarabe representing Birnin Gwari/Giwa Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.
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The House in its resolution asked the federal government to direct the Inspector General of Police to deploy special security teams to Birnin Gwari and Giwa areas of Kaduna State to urgently tackle bandits and terrorists operating in the area.
The House asked the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Air Staff to intensify their operations against terrorists and bandits terrorising the people of the area as well as other parts of the North-West states.
The House also asked the federal government to implement the far-reaching recommendations made by the House on how to tackle insecurity in the country arising from a security summit it held last year to proffer solutions to the nation’s security problems.
‘117 killed, 130 abducted in four days’
Earlier, Hon. Balarabe, while moving the motion, expressed concerns over the rising bandits’ activities in Birnin Gwari and Giwa communities in the past few weeks.
He said between March 24 and 28, over 117 people were killed, 130 were abducted and over 10,463 people were displaced following a series of attacks launched by bandits across communities in his constituency.
The lawmaker said a countless number of cattle were rustled while houses and other valuables belonging to his constituents were razed during the invasions by the bandits.
He, therefore, prayed the House to urge the federal government to direct the IGP and the Chief of Army Staff to deploy special forces to Birnin Gwari and Giwa federal constituency to combat the bandits terrorising the people.
He also urged the federal government to set up camps for internally displaced persons while also providing relief materials to offer succour to the victims of the attack
‘Nigerians should take up arms in self-defence’
The Leader of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano), in his contribution, said Nigerians must be allowed to take up arms to defend themselves against bandits and terrorists in view of the failure of the security forces to defend them.
He said Nigerians must organise themselves and rise up to defend “their innocent souls” against bandits’ attacks instead of running away each time they (bandits) come to attack their communities.
Doguwa said it was disheartening that the security agencies have failed in providing the needed security for Nigerians despite the billions of naira appropriated to them by the National Assembly year in year out.
“With all sense of responsibility, I think Nigerians should this moment be allowed to also take arms; Nigerians must be allowed to take up arms in defence of their innocent souls; defend their hard-earned properties because it is like a monumental failure, if the agencies of security have failed, then Nigerians should not be seen as a failure.
“Let Nigerians organise themselves in the way of civil defence. Let (them) organise defence for their innocent souls because, if the responsibility of the government can not be carried out democratically, then everyone has the cause to defend himself.
“Nigerians should no longer be running away from attacks, unnecessary bandits’ (attacks)”, he said.
He said it was worrisome that despite the many military formations in Kaduna State, the state has remained unsafe and insecure over the past few years.
Contributing, Rep Ahmed Nasir, while decrying the deteriorating security situation, called for the resignation of the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, for failing in his responsibility.
Deputy Speaker of the House, Idris Wase, who presided over the plenary, said there are necessary security formations to keep Kaduna State secured but added that lack of synergy among the security agencies remains a problem.
Wase, while expressing concerns over the security problems, charged the relevant committees of the House in charge of security agencies to be up and doing in their legislative oversight functions to ensure they are put on their toes.
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