Banditry: Declare Emergency In North-West, Reps Urge FG

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government led by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to declare a state of emergency on the security crisis in the North-West.

No fewer than 57 members of a vigilante group were feared killed by bandits in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Monday night.

On Wednesday, gunmen reportedly killed 19 security personnel, including 13 soldiers, five policemen and one vigilante.

A member of the House, Yusuf Sununu, at the plenary on Wednesday, moved a motion of urgent public importance on behalf of members from Kebbi State, on the urgent need for the Federal Government to stop the banditry in the geopolitical zone, especially in Kebbi South Senatorial District.

Sununu, in his presentation, decried that Kebbi has continued to come under attacks by bandits, which sometimes run into days, a development that has continued to contravene the fundamental right to security of people living in the state.

The lawmaker asked how the bandits, who were said to be coming from the neighbouring states in their hundreds, infiltrate Kebbi and carry out robberies, kidnappings and cattle rustling, and are still able to make away with their spoils uninterrupted.

Sununu decried that socio-economic, as well as academic activities in Kebbi-South, have almost been grounded to a halt, as students and residents live in constant fear of going about their regular activities.

The lawmaker, therefore, called on the government to mobilise the necessary reinforcement of ground and air troops to the region before there is a total breakdown of law and order.

He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency to also come to the aid of the victims.

Sununu further called for a declaration of a state of emergency on insecurity in the whole north western part of Nigeria.

The lawmakers unanimously adopted the motion.

He then called on the relevant security and defence committees of the House to investigate the immediate and remote causes of such continuous acts of banditry and come up with the right course of action for further legislative action.

Sununu reminded members that the general elections are fast approaching and voting can only be conducted in safe and conducive environments.