The Niger State House of Assembly has called on the executive arm of government to redirect part of the security funds of the 25 local governments for the procurement of small arms for local councils in the state.
This was adopted following a motion sponsored by Joseph Haruna S. Duza, the member representing Munya Constituency, at the plenary of the house presided over by the Speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji.
Duza told his colleagues that security components deployed to the various local governments as vigilantes and hunters are not performing optimally as a result of the lack of weapons to match the firepower of bandits and terrorists.
According to him: “Some local government areas are passive in handling peculiar security matters, probably as a result of inexperience on security issues and [because they] do not make provision for the logistics for these vigilante groups.”
After deliberation, the House unanimously adopted the prayers of the motion.
The House also called on the executive to urgently establish military and hunters’ camps around Ijah Gbagyi, Zhibi and Gyedna communities in Tafa LG that share borders with the FCT and Kaduna State to block the routes of bandits.
Muhammed Sani Idris, who represents Tafa Constituency, in a motion, noted the need to strengthen the security architecture in the council to curb the menace.
” For the past few months, bandits have been unleashing mayhem on the council, maiming, killing, and abducting people from different communities.
“As of today, bandits have attacked different places within Tafa LGA nine times in the past few months,” he stated.
