Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, the Chairman Senate Services Committee has lamented that his people were being killed daily by armed bandits without help from the government.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, Niger East Senator said that despite several calls and appeals to concerned authorities for action on the situation, not much has been done.
Musa disclosed that he was forced to cut short his trip after he received news of another fresh attack on his people by the bandits.
Senator Musa said there are fresh attacks by bandits in over eight communities in both Shiroro and Munya local government areas that have lasted for more than five days.
In his signed statement, Musa said: “For several months now, my people (the people of Niger East) have not had a moment of solitude.
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Bandits have taken away sleep from their eyes, be it in the day time or at night.
Many lives have been cut short, women have been raped, some even before their spouse, children have been turned to orphans and many have been abducted with huge ransoms being demanded.
Cattle are being rustled, farm produce and other valuables are stolen. This is besides thousands of persons who have been rendered homeless.
“The havoc rendered by bandits to my people in the past few months is immeasurable and the pains indescribable.
“It is truly a sad situation that has continued to pull tears to my eyes seeing my people being put through such a torturous and inhumane treatment in the hand of a godless people supposed to give all concerned cause to worry.
“For this unwarranted situation, I had to cut short my trip and return this morning after I received the report of fresh attacks on five communities in Shiroro local government area, which include Zongoro, Kwaki, Magami, Masuku, and Maguga as well as other communities in Munya local government area.
The village Head of Masuku was killed and his son abducted in the attacks which have lasted since 14th of January.
I have also gathered that not less than 30 people have so far been abducted by the bandits.”
Senator Musa appealed to President Buhari, the State Governor and all service chiefs in the country to provide lasting solution to the killings.,
His words: “I appeal to Mr President the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the aid of my people. This is not the first time I am making this kind of passionate appeal but not much has been done to address the situation.
I pray that his Excellency would hear my appeal this time and use his powers in this regard. “I have no doubt that the Federal Government has the capacity to tackle the problem once and for all, considering the efforts of Mr President at tackling the insurgency in the northeast since his assumption in office.
“I also wish to call on the Governor of Niger State, Dr Abubakar Bello not to relent in the quest towards handling this unforgettable situation.
I urge him not to relent but to continue to deploy all necessary machinery to arrest the menace once and for all.
“While I commend the resilient efforts of the security agencies in the state, I also call on them to redouble their efforts by ensuring that the perpetrators of this heinous and dastardly acts are not only flushed out but arrested and adequately prosecuted.
“The military and the police should deploy more personnel to the area. To this end, I call on the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, to focus on the situation in Niger State and to establish more joint operations by also deploying more forces especially to Rafi, Munya and Shiroro local government areas where bandits seem to be having a field day.”
Senator Sani Musa assured his constituents of his unwavering determination to ameliorate their sufferings, particularly in seeing to it that the current security challenges in their communities are brought to an end.
He, however, urged them to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that will help their operations.
“Let me assure the people of Niger East that I will continue to fight for their wellbeing and security. I shall seek formal and official audience with Mr. Governor, the Security Chiefs in the state and possibly the National Security Adviser immediately on the security challenges with the objective of mopping up all necessary forces that can help us tame and destroy the ugly monster of banditry.
I urge the people to cooperate with security agencies by providing relevant information to that will enhance the investigation and operations of security agencies.
They should also report promptly any suspicious movement around them,” he said.
