The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. c has explained the reasons for the increase in banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling in his constituency, Wase.
The lawmaker who represents Wase Local Government Area from Plateau State, at the green chamber, said the increased insecurity bedevilling the LGA could be connected to the mining activities and the influx of bandits from Zamfara, Kaduna and other states experiencing similar criminal activities in the country.
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Our correspondent reports that various communities of Wase LGA had in recent times witnessed banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling, forcing many villagers to flee their homes.
In an interview with journalists in Jos, on Monday, the lawmaker said, “The activities of mining is one of the factors that contributed to the increase in all sorts of criminality in Wase. The problem didn’t start in one day. I could remember, I moved a motion on the floor of the House on the activities of mining in the area, and I have been vindicated by the current position of the government on the problem.
“The root of banditry in my constituency has a linkage with bandits from Zamfara State. I have said it times without number, mining is one of the problems. Wherever you find mining, you have different sorts of criminals who would disguise to mingle among the workers. I am so disturbed by what is happening. It is very unfortunate.
“We have deliberated on the actions to be taken against the assailants and it won’t do us good to disclose it to the public. We have the responsibility to protect lives and properties. We have been going it and we will continue to do so.”
On the issue of the withdrawal of soldiers in some villages, the lawmaker said, “I wouldn’t know why the soldiers were removed. It is an operational procedure and so I may not know. But the security personnel are also doing their best.
“To the best of my knowledge, the soldiers were not withdrawn completely from Wase entirely. There are still soldiers in the LGA .”
