Banditry: Senate Laments Killing of Policemen, Residents in Niger

Deji Elumoye and Sunday Aborisade, Abuja

The Senate yesterday  called on security agencies in the country to be proactive in the fight against insurgency, banditry and terrorism in order to prevent loss of lives and properties. 

The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, made the call following a point of order raised by the Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi representing Niger North District. 

Rising on Order 42, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, drew the attention of the Senate to the recent onslaught by bandits in his Senatorial District. 

The lawmaker lamented that the bandits, who came in large number from Zamfara State, attacked a Police Station at Nasko town in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State. 

According to him, the Divisional Police Officer(DPO), some Policemen and residents were killed by the bandits during the attack on the town. 

In his remark, Omo-Agege commended the swift intervention of security agencies. 

He, however, urged them to adopt a proactive approach to protect citizens against the criminal activities of insurgents, kidnappers and terrorists. 

 “From your personal explanation, it is clear that they’ve done their best, we are not unmindful of that.

“They were able to come back with a reprisal to take them out. 

“We would have wished that they took a proactive action, and not an action coming after lives have been lost.

“Be that as it may, we will continue to encourage security agencies to do all they can to police as much of our territory, especially in Niger State, which is about one of the largest land mass we have in this country.”

The Senate, thereafter, held a minute silence to mourn those killed by the bandits in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State.