EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
Senator Shehu Sani has said herdsmen who are responsible for the killings and slaughtering in Benue and Taraba are nothing but terrorists “except if we want to call a spade a pestle or a spoon”.
The Senator representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly said this on Monday in reaction to Saturday afternoon’s raid by suspected bandits at Gwaska in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“Herdsmen who commit massacre in Benue and Taraba and ‘Bandits’ who commit massacre in Zamfara and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna state, are nothing but terrorists; except if we want to call a spade a pestle or a spoon,” he stated.
The Kaduna Senator vowed to support President Muhammadu Buhari on the floor of the Senate to fund and equip the DSS, Police and Civil Defence, as he did to the military to “bring an end to all the excuses now ‘produced daily in an industrial-scale’”.
“The indifference of the ruling political establishment to end the ceaseless violence and killings in the country is based on the fact that the victims are the poor and the peasants in rural areas.
“Again and again, I will continue to raise the tragic situation of Birnin Gwari on the floor of the senate until it touches the conscience of those responsible for its security to prioritize human lives over 2019 politics.
“Mass burial has become ‘a daily ritual’ in Birnin Gwari. We must admit the fact that the police and the army have nothing much to work with to enable them confront the danger and the superior fire power of the armed bandits,” he said.
TheNewsGuru reports bandits attacked Gwaska village in Birnin Gwari on Saturday afternoon leaving about 45 persons dead.
Residents said the killings occurred around 2:30 p.m. when the bandits stormed the village in large numbers on motorcycles. They also burnt many houses in the community.
Confirming the incident, Kaduna State Police commissioner, Austin Iwar, said the police have deployed over 150 personnel to the area as directed by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Sunday.
“Yes 45 people were confirmed dead and as we speak the state command have already deployed 150 policemen to the area to provide security,” he said.
“We will also deploy another 200 police officers by next week to help protect lives and property in Birnin Gwari. We are doing everything possible to secure the area,” he said.
On the need for the command to work with local vigilante in the area, Mr Austin said the police is already doing so and will continue to work with them in the area of community policing.
A community leader in Birnin Gwari, who identified himself as Hussaini, said over 40 bodies were brought to emir’s place in Birnin Gwari on Sunday afternoon.
“Some bodies that were seemed to have been burnt were already buried by their love ones at Doka and Mando villages, few kilometres from Birnin Gwari town,” he said.
Following the latest attack, Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Sunday evening had announced that the federal government agreed to deploy a permanent army battalion in the troubled area.
Personal Assistant to President Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad today said the FG has approved a new military battalion, a new Police Area Command and two additional Div Police HQs for the area.
He said it was in efforts by the Buhari government “To bring an end to the bloodletting, and ensure that the criminals behind it are brought to justice,” while adding “The killings in Birnin Gwari are regrettable”.
El-Rufai confirmed the development, stressing the engagements between the State and Federal Governments is yielding results.
“Military and security deployments have continued in the area since then, but the bandits hiding in the forests continue to exert a deadly toll, killing civilians, soldiers and other security forces.
“The Federal Government has now approved a permanent army battalion in the area, instead of the previous ad-hoc deployments. Police strength in the Birnin-Gwari axis is also being enhanced,” the Kaduna state governor confirmed.