The Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Sani Mohammed Musa has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to save his constituent from the unending attacks by bandits who according to him have killed two persons, abducted 30, sacked 15 villages and displaced more than 5000 villagers within a space of one week.
He lamented in a statement made available to Journalists in Minna that the situation has become unbearable for the people, adding that “on the same day, Chukuba and Kuchi communities in Shiroro local government area were attacked by bandits, a Christian cleric and a man thought to be a vigilante security personnel were killed, while at least eight persons were kidnapped”.
Accordingly, he said “in one week, armed men in their hundreds have unleashed mayhem and terror on innocent citizens in their peaceful villages, forcing them to evacuate their homes into homelessness. At least two persons have been killed and over 30 persons have been abducted since the latest attacks.
The lawmaker, further disclosed that “no fewer than 5000 persons have become refugees from over 15 communities in Niger East, as gunmen continue to rain terror on the innocent citizens unabated.
“On Thursday, 10th December, armed men numbering over fifty were reported to have stormed, at separate times, Garin Gabbas and Yakila communities in Rafi local government, where they abducted the District Head of Gunna, Ibrahim Abdulhameed, a youth leader of the All Progressives Congress and two other persons.”
While reeling more details, Senator Musa said that the gunmen also attacked villages between Zungeru and Tegina in Rafi LG on Friday 11th December 2020 from where they abducted numbers of persons while shooting sporadically into the air for about an hour.
He lamented that the bandits attacks became more daring on Sunday when they invaded Ogu and Rafin Doko in Rafi LG came under serious attacks by and abducted at least 19 persons from the two communities.
According to him, “In fact, the last one week could be described as hell on earth for the people of Niger East who can no longer sleep both in the day and night for fear of the unknown. They have been rendered helpless even as they continue to starve due to the destruction of their property and inability to engage in what they know how to do best which is farming.”
He however argued that enough of the bloodletting and carnage saying that the lives of innocent citizens cannot continue to be sacrificed on the altar of blood-thirsty vampires who are bent on destroying the peace of our land.
“I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to put the security operatives on their toes to ensure they live up to their responsibilities of protecting the lives of the citizens. If the security agencies in our country, cannot guarantee the protection of lives and property of the citizens, then Nigeria may be on the precipice of anarchy”, he said.
He stated that with the mass abduction of children in Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State and the numerous attacks, kidnapping and massacres suffered by the people of Niger East and elsewhere, there is no doubt that there is no better time to act than now.
Furthermore, he again lent his voice to support his distinguished colleagues in the Senate and Honourable members of the House of Representatives as well as other meaningful Nigerians in calling for the revamp of the security architecture in the country adding , “Mr President should not hesitate to ensure that this is done, and indeed now.”
