In response to a recent United Nations Special Report highlighting the existence of 24 terrorist cells across approximately 30 forests in the North-West region of Nigeria, the House of Representatives has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action to address the security challenges in Katsina State.
The resolution was passed after the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Aliyu Abubakar during a House session.
Abubakar drew attention to the consistent association of North-Western states, particularly Katsina, with banditry, emphasizing that 23 out of the 34 Local Government Areas in Katsina State have been directly attacked.
The UN report provides alarming details on the numerical strength and leadership of the identified terrorist cells.
It specifically points out the presence of encampments in Kankara, Safana, Jibia, and Batsari Local Government Areas of Katsina State, accommodating an estimated populace of no fewer than 1,920 terrorists.
Expressing concern over the devastating impact of banditry on lives and properties in Northern Nigeria, the motion called for urgent and stiffer measures to combat the organized crime of banditry.
The lawmakers highlighted the need to prevent humanitarian and human rights consequences, security deterioration, and the spread of violence in conflict-affected communities.
In response to the motion, the House of Representatives urged relevant security agencies to leverage the intelligence provided by the UN report to combat banditry attacks in Katsina State effectively.
Additionally, they called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to intervene and assist the victims, alleviating the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the affected areas.
To ensure compliance with the resolutions, the House mandated its Committee on Emergency Disaster Preparedness to oversee and report on implementing the recommended measures.
The call to action comes amid growing concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the North-West region, with a focus on Katsina State.
The House emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges to safeguard the lives and properties of citizens and prevent further socio-economic disruptions in the affected communities.