Reps urge FG to address security challenge in Zamfara

The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to urgently address the security challenges in Shinkafi Local Government Area and other parts of Zamfara.

The House also directed its committees on Public Safety and National Security, Defence and Police Affairs to carry out thorough investigation into the remote and immediate causes of the attacks.

This was sequel to a motion under matters of urgent national importance by Rep. Abubakar Moriki (Zamfara-APC).

Moving the motion, Moriki explained that armed men suspected to be cattle rustlers invaded Tungar Mai Kahu and Mallamawa villages between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday.

He said that the attack led to the death of 25 persons and loss of property worth millions of Naira, recalling that some other communities in the local government also suffered similar attacks in the recent past.

The lawmaker expressed concern that the situation had deteriorated in view of reports of sustained attacks on the communities.

He lamented the inability of security agencies to handle such attacks, which had resulted in continued fear and insecurity on the part of the citizens.

In her contribution, Rep. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (Abia-PDP), who decried the attacks, noted that it was time for the country’s climate change policy to be looked at again in addressing insecurity.

She added that the change in the Lake Chad Basin was also contributory to reasons why herders resorted to invading communities and killing members of such communities.

Elendu-Ukeje also decried what she said was over-stretching of the Nigerian Armed Forces due to the fact that it also took on roles meant for the police which was under-manned.

She therefore called for more funding for the police to enable it recruit more men.

Similarly, Rep. Mohammed Monguno (Borno-APC) urged that more men be recruited into the armed forces and be provided a conducive environment to work.

Monguno called on the House to look for ways to increase the defence budget for the purpose of recruitment as well as operations.

He advised the Zamfara Government to engage the youths to also assist security agencies in curbing further attacks.

The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the presiding Deputy Speaker, Mr Yussuff Lasun.

The House directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the affected victims.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has described as callous, insensitive and cowardly the suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Mubi, Adamawa, which claimed many lives.

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In a statement on Tuesday by Mr Turaki Hassan, his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, the speaker expressed shock and concern that the killing was targeted at innocent worshippers performing their obligatory religious duty.

“I am deeply pained by this tragic incident which is a setback to our successes recorded in the restoration of peace in the North-East.”

While condoling with the families of victims and the government and people of Adamawa, Dogara reiterated his call on security forces to focus on intelligence gathering and timely deployment of information to stem terrorism.