Senate Demands Increased Security in Taraba, UNIMAID

• Wants monument named after Maitama Sule

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Senate wednesday urged the federal government to establish a formidable military base, and ensure increased security surveillance in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, following the recent crises which resulted in destruction of lives and property, as well as cattles.

It also called for the set up of a judicial panel to investigate the immediate and remote cause of the crises which has displaced over 100,000 persons.

This is as the lawmakers urged the federal government to immediately put in place extraordinary measures to ensure the restoration of peace and tranquility to the University of Maiduguri, following constant attack by suicide bombers, on the institution in recent times.

Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (Taraba Central) in a motion co-sponsored with 13 others, noted that the crises which occurred in Sardauna Local Government of Taraba, between June 17 to 25, 2017 is the most devastating and barbaric to ever occur in the area.

“Due to the barbaric killings, wanton and arsenic destruction of settlements and other properties by the militia, many have been rendered homeless and are presently in various internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Nguroje, Gembu, Mayo, Ndaga, Dorofi in Niget, and as refugees in the Republic of Cameroon,” he said.

Yusuf urged the government to take urgent steps to secure and protect lives, animals and properties of the citizens, and to also prevent further breakdown of law and order.

“The killing of any citizen of Nigeria under any guise amounts to serious violations of the right to life, right to security of persons, right to the respect of the dignity inherent in human beings, the right to property ownership, the right of animals to decent life, not only guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, but also by the African Charter on Human and People’s Right and International Conventions on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a party,” he argued.

Senator Baba Kaka Bashir (Borno Central) who co-sponsored the motion on the need for enhanced security at the University of Maiduguri with 45 others, expressed concern that the school has become a soft target and signature battle point in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.

He added that the institution which can be considered the last institution standing following the advent of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east, is on the verge of caving in to the relentless assault.

“The Boko Haram insurgent have adopted the tactics of unbridled suicide bombings targeted at the institution with a view to bringing the university down to its knees; this is a situation that must never be allowed to happen in our generation,” he said.

Adopting the prayers of the motion, the Senate called on security agencies to submit a comprehensive plan of action to contain, maintain and assure the constant security of the university and its host community.

It also called on the Minister of Education, through Tertiary Trust Fund, to take measures to revamp the security infrastructure by immediately embarking on fencing the school.

In another development, the senators called on the federal government to immortalise the late elder statesman, Maitama Sule, by naming a national monument after him.

The Senate described his death as the demise of a precious gem, which is a loss not only to the people of Kano State and Nigeria, but to Africa and the international community.

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central) who formally announced the death of Sule to the lawmakers, said the late orator led the voices of fairness, equity, justice, national political and economic stability, unity in diversity.

The tribute of all, regarding his person is that he was a pragmatic and ardent believer in consensus and fair play in statecraft and nation building, Kwankwaso said.