Senator says Nigeria is becoming a theater of war

Senator Sani stated this while speaking on the attacksin his constituency, Birnin Gwari local government of Kaduna state at plenary on Tuesday, February 6, 2018.

The Senator said while one part of Nigeria is being controlled by the government, the other is under the siege of bandits and armed men.

The Kaduna lawmaker who expressed displeasure over the ‘lackadaisical’ approach of the federal government to the various killings in the country said Nigeria is becoming a theatre of war.

“I have an issue in a local government in one of my constituency; it is called Birnin Gwari local government,” Sani began.

“This local government borders on the states, of Zamfara, Kebbi, and Niger states. This local government in the last two to three years has been under siege of armed herdsmen and bandits.

Bandits taking over local communities

“Bandits that have made life intolerable to the people of that part of the state. Many villages in this local government have been sacked, farmers don’t go to their farms nowadays, many of the citizens reside in that local government are now in the capital.

“Of concern is the fact that killings and abduction have begun a daily affair, it is one issue that not been able to get the national attention of the global spotlight.

“Just few days ago, about seven persons were killed, and continually the killings have been so on a daily basis that even the media, don’t take much time to give it a space in their pages of newspapers.

“I am deeply concerned that the government is losing the grip that we cannot guarantee the safety of lives and properties in this country, and I think we have lost the essence of our being in government.

“Every day, this country is becoming a theater of war, you see bodies of victims killed, dismembered and shared on social media. There is nowhere in Africa today where you see this Christly and grossly pictures and images been shared every day.

“I am deeply concerned that the essence to which to which we should be in government and address those very important issues have not been given the required attention as they should be.

“Most of these issues are cornered in ethic religious and sectional sentiments. It has gotten to a level that we lose the essence of what we are supposed to do as people in the position of power. This local government has become a center piece of violence and killings. All attempts made have simply been done lackadaisical.

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“There is no much interest on the side of the government to address these problems. It is clear that the areas that attract the attention of the government is the one that is been given the widest publicity. And unfortunately we are not able to get it in our place.

“It is time for us of all men of good will in this country because we are leaving in self-denial, a denial in the sense that are supposed to speak the truth to power have taken it an attitude of silence and many of them are burying themselves in politics.

“Part of this country controlled by government, the other by gunmen. For how long will this continue? violence in all parts of the country. This systematic killing is becoming widespread. How can we say over 100 years after amalgamation, over five to six decades after independence that countries like Niger, Cameroun, and Benin republic that people there can live in safety?

"I am raising this issue to all the authorities that are concerned that there is a need to have a permanent military presence in this local government.

Attacks in Zamfara state

“Few days ago, Senator Marafa raised issue about the . You should know that Zamfara state and Kaduna state are neighboring states. That place is virtually controlled by armed bandits and herdsmen and there is no presence of government there.

“It is time to put politics aside and focus on the issue of insecurity. People that are privileged to move to the villa should please spare us the time of telling the truth to the people in power that things are getting worse and there is a need for us to do what we need to do,” he concluded.

In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who presided over plenary appealed to the federal government to step up its responsibility to ensure protection of lives and properties.

“As parliamentarians and representatives of the people, it is our responsibility to continuously call the attention of the government to some of these things. The issue of the monopoly of force should be that of state but today, the non-state actors have now taken over the issue of violence which is very regrettable.

“So, we must be able to stamp our feet and be able to show our people that we can protect their lives and property which is the primary purpose of government. So, I want to appeal to the government to step up our responsibilities to ensure that we protect our people because once these things are happening it will be affecting us internationally in terms of our public relations, direct foreign investment, and then the confidence our people have in government will be eroded,” Ekweremadu said.