(Minna)
Sen. Mohammed Sani Musa( Niger-East), Niger state, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency set up permanent military base in his Senatorial district to save his people from constant attacks by armed bandits in the state.
Duaglobalnews recalls that Musa came under attacks from Concerned Shiroro Youths from Shiroro local Government Area accusing him and other political leaders of not doing enough to protect lives and property in accordance with the principle of the oath they swore.
The youths lamented that they had been forced out from their ancestral homes by armed bandits who took over their homes and farmlands in Shiroro after raping their women and daughters and as well carting their cattle in series of attacks.
The group said their problems were, however,compounded by plans by Governor Bello to send the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Shiroro away from the camp in Bosso, without first making adequate arrangements to guarantee their security back to their ancestral homes.
But, Sani Musa who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Senate Services, told the agitating youths that he only made or supported laws for the betterment of Nigerians and had no powers to order the military to take over the area.
“I understand the feelings and agitations by the Concerned Shiroro Youths toward current security challenges we are facing, but I find it rather disheartening to read their comments regarding political representations from Niger East.
“I don’t control command security structures in Niger state but committed to the promoting legislation for the betterment of Niger-East,”he explained.
The Senator, however, said that he had been making frantic efforts to get the attention of the President on the plight of his people.
He said that contrary to claims by the youths,was worried about the fate of over 3, 600 IDPs mostly from his zone and the continued killing and destruction of property of his people many of who had been kidnapped by the bandits.
Musa, in a statement made available to journalists in Minna Thursday, said President Buhari as a father to the nation could not afford to turn deaf ears and close his eyes against the wanton killings of the people of his constituency, Gwari people in particular.
He appealed to Buhari to give marching orders for the establishment of a military base in each of the three local government areas.
“On and off by security agencies from the affected areas cannot end armed banditry because the bandits know when troops are around and when they are not.
“As soon as the troops are withdrawn, they will resurface and continue unleashing mayhem on innocent people, ”the lawmaker noted.
“The solution to the carnage, therefore, is to establish a permanent military Base in the areas, their presence will no doubt scare off the hoodlums and consequently stem the tide of killings, raping, cattle rustling and other forms of criminalities”.
He said the latest attacks in Rafi and Shiroro at this critical time when the world is under the pressure of the dreaded Corona Virus (COVID 19) pandemic was worrisome.
He also advised the Federal and state government to beef up all round security to ensure that people do not suffer double tragedy.
Musa also called on the National and State Emergency Management Agencies(NEMA) to come to the aid of the Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) with provisio
of adequate support such as; food items, healthcare and other basic necessities.
On COVID 19, the Senator urged the relevant agencies to make hand sanitizers or potable water for the IDPs, while emphasizing the need for social distancing, and restriction of persons from going into the camps without proper checks.
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