NASS demands a more holistic approach to tame soaring insecurity
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has expressed grave concern at the growing insecurity across the country.
He said on Tuesday that he was “taken aback” by the resurgence of banditry and insurgency especially in the North East and North Central zones of the country.
But he promised to be harder on criminals.
Federal lawmakers who returned from their recess also expressed misgivings about the situation.
Both chambers of the National Assembly will today debate the worsening insecurity with a view to proffering solution having identified the need to rejig the nation’s security architecture.
The death toll in the Plateau State killings has risen to 33, causing discomfort for Governor Simon Lalong, who ordered the arrest of some community leaders.
Speaking to visiting Niger State Eminent Citizens led by Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello, the President said: “I was taken aback by what is happening in the Northwest and other parts of the country. During our campaigns, we knew about the Boko Haram. What is coming now is surprising. It is not ethnicity or religion, rather it is one evil plan against the country.
President Buhari said the onslaught of the bandits had also affected agricultural output in some parts of the country, in spite of the favourable weather for farming, because many farmers were attacked, and others had to stay away for safety.
The continuous attacks on Niger State communities has been going on for three weeks consecutively, Senator Sabi Abdullahi told reporters on Tuesday.
Abdullahi, a member of the Niger State Eminent Citizens who visited the President at the Villa, said: “Arising from the last three weeks of continuous attacks, my colleague has cried out as it is customary of him as a representative of the people and this has led to Mr. President giving directives that the army and the air force should do the needful by identifying the target and where necessary shell the area so that this issue can be brought under control.
“We definitely thank Mr. President for the quick response but at the same time, call on him to look at a more holistic approach to taming this particular unfortunate situation”, he said.
According to him, the security architecture of the country had completely collapsed, adding that there was the need to restructure it.
“One of the new challenges the state is facing has to do with the renewed banditry attacks on our villages which is currently devastating in the Niger East Senatorial District,” he added.