By Ummi Ismaeel,
Minna
Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, representing Niger-East Senatorial district, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria to urgently set up permanent military base in areas facing constant attacks by armed bandits in Niger State.
Senator Musa came under attacks from Concerned Shiroro Youths from Shiroro Local Government Area, who accused him and other political leaders including President Muhammadu Buhari of not protecting lives and properties as they had sworn on oath.
The youths not only lamented that they had been forced out from their ancestral homes by armed bandits, who took over their homes and farmlands in Shiroro after raping their women and daughters as well carting their cattle in series of attacks.
The group said that their problems were however compounded by plans by Governor Abubakar Bello to send the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Shiroro away from the camp in Bosso without first making adequate arrangements to guarantee their security back to their ancestral homes.
But, Sani Musa who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Senate Services, told the agitating youths that he only makes or supports laws for the betterment of Nigerians and has no powers to order the military to take over the area.
“I don’t control command security structures in Niger State but committed to the promoting legislation for the betterment of Niger-East”, Musa said, adding that he has been making frantic efforts to get the attention of the President on the plight of his people.
Contrary to claims by the youths, the lawmaker said that he was worried about the fate of over 3, 600 IDPs mostly from his zone and the continued killing and destruction of properties of his people while many have been kidnapped by the armed bandits.
In a statement in Minna Thursday, Musa said that President Buhari as a father to the nation could not afford to turn deaf ears and close his eyes against the wanton killings of the people of his constituency, Gwari people in particular.
While appealing for the urgent attention of President Buhari to give marching orders to the military to establish a base in each of the three local government areas – Munya, Shiroro and Rafi – Musa said that the situation was becoming more alarming by the day.
“On and off by security agencies from the affected areas cannot end armed banditry because the bandits know when troops are around and when they are not. As soon as the troops are withdrawn, they will resurface and continue unleashing mayhem on innocent people”.
Sani Musa further said, “The solution to the carnage therefore is to establish a permanent military base in the areas; their presence will no doubt scare the hoodlums and consequently stem the tide of killings, raping, cattle rustling and other forms of criminalities.
“The latest attacks in Rafi and Shiroro at this critical time when the world is under the pressure of the dreaded Corona Virus (COVID 19) pandemic is worrisome,
He however advised both the federal and state government to beef up all round security to ensure that people do not suffer double tragedy.
Musa also called on both the National and State Emergency Management Agencies to come to the aid of the victims by providing them with adequate support to the displaced persons such as; food items, healthcare and other basic necessities.
As part of measures to check the spread of COVID 19, Senator Musa urged the relevant agencies to make hand sanitizers or water for the IDPs, while emphasizing the need for social distancing, and restriction of persons from going into the camps without proper checks.
He said, “I understand the feelings and agitations by the Concerned Shiroro Youths towards current security challenges we are facing but I find it rather disheartening to read their comments regarding political representations from Niger East”.
