Senate To Buhari: Extend Military Action Against Banditry To Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara States 

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Senate on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to expand the scope of military operations against armed bandits he approved for Katsina State to include Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara States and any other surrounding areas or States that the armed bandits may want to seek safe haven following the massive operation. 

The upper chamber also called on the military formations and the Nigerian Police to increase their surveillance operation to track movements by the armed bandits to deny them accessing any safe haven. 

The Senate however commended the President for his directive to launch a military offensive against armed bandits in Katsina State. 

These were part of the resolutions of the Senate following a motion that it considered on the floor on the need to integrate adjoining States of Niger, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi and Sokoto states to military operation directed by the President. 

The motion which was sponsored by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC – Niger North) recalled that the Upper chamber of the National Assembly had last week Tuesday, May 12, 2020, considered two separate motions on the need for the federal government to immediately address the growing spate of banditry in Niger and Katsina States, respectively. 

Senator Abdullahi said the upper chamber was “aware through a Presidential Spokesman that President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized the commencement of a major military operation to sweep bandits and kidnappers out of Katsina state; as major proactive measures by Special Forces to replace the reactive strikes against the camps of these bandits and criminals”. 

He said; “The criminalities by these armed bandits and kidnappers is carried out mostly under the cover of the contagious forests reserves and areas stretching from Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger States with pockets of safe havens in Kebbi and Sokoto states.”

Abdullahi therefore expressed concerns that “a major offensive in Katsina State alone is likely to make the armed bandits and kidnappers seek safer haven in Kaduna, Zamfara and Niger States which hosts the Zurmi and Kamuku forests among others, and thereby further compound the plight of hapless and poor communities along the forest corridors. 

He also said; “It was the earlier massive operations in Zamfara and Kaduna states that led the armed bandits to seek safe haven elsewhere, thus moving into Katsina and Niger States respectively; and some others pushing their luck to some parts of Asokoro and Kebbi States.