Topic: Saraki tasks Buhari to take direct control of 'barbaric' killings in Zamfara  (Read 733 times)

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Saraki tasks Buhari to take direct control of 'barbaric' killings in Zamfara

He has called on security agencies to swiftly devise a strategy to put an end to the ugly  situation.
   
   
   
       
       
           
               
                   

He has called on security agencies to swiftly devise a strategy to put an end to the ugly  situation.


               
           
               
                   

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki has condemned the wanton killings in Zamfara State, describing them as barbaric and unacceptable.


               
           
               
                   

Zamfara has been the hotbed of repeated killings over the past months as hundreds have been killed by bandits and many others kidnapped for ransom.


               
           
               
                   

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki called on security agencies to swiftly devise a strategy to put an end to the ugly  situation.


               
           
               
                   

He said the killings in the state have gone on for too long because the situation was left unattended to by the government.


               
           
               
                   

"There is need for certain and proper profiling of the situation so that we can know whether it is simple cattle rustling, vicious armed robbery on a large scale, religious cum ethnic crisis or invasion by foreign forces.


               
           
               
                   

"Our security agencies must immediately come out with a proper understanding of the situation, the right strategy and deployment of the necessary troops to tackle the menace. We must within the next few days send the right signals to the criminals in that area that the Nigerian State will no longer tolerate the on-going blood-letting," he said.


               
           
               
                   

The Senate President also charged President Muhammadu Buhari to take full control of the situation and do every thing necessary to put an end to the troubling cases of deadly violence being visited on residents of the state.


               
           
               
                   

He said, "We must immediately change our strategy. Also, the President has to take full, direct control. May be the President must widen the consultation within the armed forces on the search for solution to this problem. He must go beyond the first line military top brass. We need to get ideas from more sources than we presently do.


               
           
               
                   

"In 2014, I remember that President Jonathan was told that, 'You control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic, why should any part of the country be under occupation by criminals'. Why should we not apply the same logic to the occurrence in Zamfara today? 


               
           
               
                   

"Just as we also flayed the pre-2015 government, the situation in Zamfara presents a picture of the government denying the citizens their fundamental rights to life and rights to own property. The government must correct this by stopping the carnage in Zamfara immediately.


               
           
               
                   

"It is a surprise that the Zamfara killings are not getting enough attention from the media and the non-governmental organisations. The Senate had sent an investigative team into the area a few months ago after Senator Kabiru Marafa raised a motion on the floor and as at then, we called on other security agencies to help the police in dealing with the matter.


               
           
               
                   

"It is expected that by now, the President would have arranged a meeting with leaders of the National Assembly, legislators, traditional rulers and other key stakeholders from the affected state, to exchange ideas and proffer lasting solutions to the issue.


               
           
               
                   

"The key advantage of a democracy is that it provides for wide consultation and inclusion. No one person or group has all the monopoly of knowledge. We really need to do all that is possible to stop the carnage,


               
           
               
                   

"Let me use this opportunity to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately give a marching order to the various security agencies and tell them to give him progress report on a regular basis.


               
           
               
                   

"There is need for us to use the Zamfara case to demonstrate to all criminal elements that the government will not tolerate those who hide under whatever guise to shed human blood in our country.


               
           
               
                   

"We should look at the Zamfara killings as a major threat to our democracy, particularly as we move towards election period in the next 50 days. We should not allow criminal elements to take over parts of the country. The situation in that state is an example of why we need to overhaul our security architecture in order to bring them to a state where they can tackle emerging challenges."


               
           
               
                   

In reaction to the recent attacks in the state that led to violent protests by residents, President Buhari authorised an assessment trip by the the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Baba Sadiq.


               
           
               
                   

The presidency also disclosed that a major operation by the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), is being considered to restore peace and stability in Zamfara and neighbouring states including Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger and Taraba.


Source: Saraki tasks Buhari to take direct control of 'barbaric' killings in Zamfara

- gist culled from pulseng

 

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