Frightening insurgency: Reps invite President Buhari for interface

The House of Representatives on Thursday invited President Muhammadu Buhari to brief the nation on the measures being put in place to checkmate the increasing frightening insecurity in the country that had claimed several lives of innocent citizens and kidnapping of several others.

The House also resolved that a state of emergency should be declared in Katsina State , the home state of President Buhari due to banditry activities in the state.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon.  Ahmed Dayyabu Safana (APC, Katsina) at the plenary yesterday

In the motion titled “urgent need for federal government’s intervention on the ongoing wanton killing of innocent persons, destruction of properties, armed robbery and kidnappings by heavily armed bandits operating within Safana/Batsari/Dansamu federal constituency,” Dayyabu informed that some villages within his constituency had been serially attacked with many people killed by armed bandits.

He said that as an immediate step in containing the evil activities of the heavily armed bandits, the president should urgently declare a state of emergency in the federal constituency.

According to him, ” the House notes with dismay the ongoing attacks on various communities with Safana/Batsari/Dansamu Federal Constituency of Katsina State by heavily baremd bandits who continuously unleash mayhem against my constituents on daily basis.

“Also notes that the recent spate of the said attacks on members of my constituency has reached an alarming stage as the perpetrators of this dastardly act continuously kill innocent persons in my constituency and set their homes ablaze while defenceless men and women are abducted to an unknown destination.

“Worried that up to four villages within my constituency are currently under attack in the last 48 hours namely: Massa Village in Batasari Local Government where no fewer than 5 persons have been killed, Alhazawa Village in Safana LGA had been totally displaced, Guzurawa village murdered in Safana LGA also had several persons murdered in cold blood and just yesterday, Gobirawa Village came under attack with no fewer than 12 dead bodies littered in the bush while many are still missing.

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“Also worried that these killings have continued unabated and these bandits seem to be unstoppable with a specific instance at Gobirawa Village in Safana LGA where the bereaved villagers were forced to abandon the corpses during the burial and scampered for safety when they sighted the bandits coming back to launch another offensive.

“Disturbed that these bandits who operate both at night and in broad day light on motorbikes parade sophisticated weapons including AK 47 assault rifles and other dangerous weapons which they use in committing heinous crimes against my constituents.

“Concerned that despite persistent cries from the affected communities, the security operatives appear not being proactive especially on security tip off and most times fail to respond promptly.

“Cognisant that the fundamental duty of any government is the protection and preservation of lives and property by being responsive in the face of this type of cruelty and atrocity committed against its citizen.

“Aware that it is constitutional duty and responsibility of this hallowed chamber to take action whenever these levels of inhuman and brutal attacks are being inflicted on any community or group of people.”

While supporting the motion, Hon. Bashir Babale (APC,Kano) stated that “Infrastructure has collapsed where banditry takes place”, compared the former administration of Goodluck Jonathan with the present one, saying that it was wrong to have accused the erstwhile government of being docile.

Others who supported the motion include: Hon. Gabriel Onyenweife (PDP, Anambra), Hon. Chika Adamu (APC, Niger), Hon. Useni Moriki (APC, Zamfara) and Hon. Awaji Abinte (APC, Bayelsa)and expressed worry that the country was nearing a failed nation based on the spate on insecurity in the land.

In his remarks, the Speaker. Hon Yakubu Dogara said that it was necessary to invite the President for an address since the issue of banditry has become national.

While adopting the motion, the House called on the federal government to deploy the military to the areas under attack to assist the police and other security agencies in flushing out the criminal elements operating in the constituency.

It also called for the declaration of state of emergency in the area while urging the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to urgently provide relief materials to the victims of the attacks.”