The Nigerian Senate has, on Tuesday, called on the Army and Air Force to, “as a matter of urgency,” go after terrorists and bombard their enclaves across the country so as to restore peace and stability in the country.
The call is contained in a press statement signed by the Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President, Dr Ezrel Tabiowo.
According to the statement, the call came amid resolutions reached “following a point of order raised on ‘the continuing attacks on communities and public facilities in Kaduna State.’”
Raising the point of order, Senator Uba Sani (Kaduna Central) expressed worries that terrorists have stepped up attacks on communities and public facilities in Kaduna State in recent times.
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The statement quoted Sani as saying, “the latest attacks by these murderous elements took place in some communities in the Giwa Local Government Area, namely Angwan Sarki Yahya, Tashar Shari, Bare-Bari, Tsaunin Natal, Dillalai, Durumi and Jatin Kanwa, all on Yakawada Ward.
“Other places affected include Kaya community, Mai kyauro and Fatika. They killed 50 persons and kidnapped over 100 people. They also made strategic roads in the Giwa Local Government Area no-go areas.
“Not done with their devilish acts, they made an attempt to penetrate the Kaduna International Airport.
“Although the attack was foiled by vigilant security operatives, one person lost his life. When people were trying to come to grips with a week-long wanton destruction of lives and property, the terrorists struck again.”
Sani the terrorist attack on a Kaduna-bound train carrying over 970 passengers around Kateri – Rijana axis in Kaduna, just a few kilometers to the Rigasa Train Station in the Igabi Local Government Area of the State.
“The train derailed after the first wave of attacks. Grenades and RPG were used. They rained bullets on all the coaches. Some passengers were killed, while many sustained bullet wounds.
“There are reports that some of the passengers were abducted. The terrified passengers only breathed a sigh of relief when security agencies arrived and secured the train and the area. It’s been a reign of undiluted terror”, the Senator said.
Recall that The PUNCH reported that terrorists bombed the Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks and attacked a train filled with passengers on Monday night.
Terrorists getting emboldened
The statement also quoted Sani as saying that, “these latest attacks are aimed at instilling fear in the people and destroying the economies of our local communities.
“It is disheartening that these enemies of the people are getting emboldened by the day. They are becoming more brazen. These blood cuddling vampires have no regard for human life. They have no place in a civilised society.”
According to the statement, Sani expressed concern that the unrelenting attacks calls to question the strategies and tactics being adopted by our security forces.
“We expected that with the declaration of bandits as terrorists by a court of competent jurisdiction, they will be degraded in no time.
“This appears not to be happening. The security forces must reassess their strategies and come up with workable and effective solutions to the menace of terrorists in Kaduna State,” Sani added.
Observing that the hideouts of the terrorists are not impregnable, Sani said, “a comprehensive operational plan, executed with high sense of professionalism and responsibility, total commitment on the part of our security forces and the support and cooperation of the local communities will rid Kaduna State forests of these murderous elements.”
State police essential
According to the statement, the Senator explained that the advocacy for creation of State Police would bring law enforcement closer to the people.
“Effective gathering of intelligence and sustained security operations at the local level will make life uncomfortable for terrorists.
“They will have no operational base.”
“(I) once again draw the attention of the Federal Government, particularly security agencies comprising the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and other relevant security agencies to the grave security situation in Kaduna State and other states of the federation.”
Clear failure of leadership
Contributing to the point of order, Senator Gabriel Suswam lamented that Kaduna had become the new theatre of insecurity.
He said called on the appropriate authorities to take decisive action on the lingering activities of terrorists in the state.
Suswam attributed the inability of the military to curtail growing incidents of terrorism to “a clear failure of leadership.”
Full scale war the way out
The press statement read in part, “The Senate, accordingly, in its resolutions, urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to declare full scale war against terrorists, so as to fully secure all our national territory from them in whatever guise.
“It urged the Army and the Air Force to carry out sustained bombardment of terrorist enclaves with a view to flushing them out and restoring peace and stability to our communities.
“The Senate further directed security agencies to always take steps to prevent the occurrence of similar incidence in the future.
“It added that the Military should, as a matter of urgency, monitor the construction and inhabitants of new shanty buildings around the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.
“The chamber urged the relevant agencies of government to step up their information gathering mechanism to, forestall these incessant attacks.”
The Senate, after its resolutions, held a minute silence to mourn the deceased in Monday’s attacks.
It condoled the families of the victims of the attacks and the government and people of Kaduna State.
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