The Senate has alerted the federal government of the existence of terrorists’ hideouts in Niger and Kwara states.
The affected local government areas it said, include Baruten local Government of Kwara State and Borgu Local Government in Niger State, while the communities were Kaiama, Karonzi-Yashikira, Wawa and Banana.
The motion was sponsored by Senator Sadiq Sulieman Umar (Kwara North), and co-sponsored by the Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North).
Presenting the motion, Senator Umar said, “kidnapping and other forms of criminality is becoming a recurring decimal in communities close to Kainji Lake National Park particularly Nanu. Nuku, Woro, Kale in Kaiama and Yashikira in Baruten local Government of Kwara State and some part of Borgu Local Government in Niger State.
“This has led to people living in perpetual fear of either being kidnapped and/or killed by kidnappers suspected to be armed bandits;
“Further notes that Kainji Lake National Park covers an area of about 5,341km square with deep forest vegetation. This park which is reserved for tourism is becoming fort-filed in harboring bandits and other forms of criminals;
“Also notes that park rangers meant to man this park could no longer protect the forest reserve as they have lost control of the park to terrorist.”
The Senate mandated the Committees on Defence; Finance and National Planning to jointly interface with the Ministry of Defence to determine status of the establishment and funding of Army Barrack in Kaiama and Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Babanna in Kwara and Niger States.
It called on the military to carry out a comprehensive onslaught on bandits and other criminal elements within Kainji Lake National Park, especially Kaiama, Karonzi -Yashikira in Baruten local government, and Wawa and Babanna areas in Niger State.
It also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the victims.
