The Senate on Wednesday has resolved to earmark N10billion in the 2019 budget to carter for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other Nigerians affected by the banditry activities in Zamfara state. The resolution was reached sequel to deliberation on a motion sponsored by Kabiru Marafa (APC Zamfara central).
Marafa, at the plenary, raised a point of order informing his colleagues to give him a chance to present a motion on “the Need to create an intervention fund to carter for Internally Displaced Persons and other persons affected by banditry in Zamfara state”.
The Senator while presenting his motion, he commenced by commending some group of Nigerians who held protest in Abuja today and outside the country in solidarity for predicament of Zamfara people.
Speaking further, the lawmaker lamented that in spite of all effort targeted towards curbing the menace of the banditry in Zamfara state, it has continued unabated.
He claimed over 11,000 persons mostly male adults were killed since 2011 in the state which present the state as the most attacked even when compared to the states in the Northeast that have suffered similar incident from the hand of the dreaded Boko Haram elements.
In his contribution, the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, described the banditry as worrisome.
He lamented the absence of media coverage in the state in covering the incident and called for the creation of state police.
In his words, “This is sad because media houses hardly cover Zamfara state. So, most of these killings are absent in the public domain.
“I remember a part of the report from the delegation whom were sent on the spot assessment, said the whole of Zamfara was engulfed, except one local government area. As at present we don’t know the fate of that single local government area.
He added, “Nigeria is the only country doing the kind of policing we are doing – which is the centralised policing. We need to consider decentralising the system.
“I also think the time is right in Zamfara to consider a state of emergency,” he said.
In his remark, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the legislator needs to dissect the problem and come up with a long-term solution.
“I think we did that yesterday trying to strengthen the police and what we have before us, the Police Reform Bill which will be laid today.
