4th April, 2018
Senator David Umaru (APC-Niger East) has commended the Federal Government for restoring peace in five Local Government Areas of the state ravaged by armed bandits.
Umaru, who made this known on Wednesday during a press briefing in Minna with the affected communities, also appealed to government not pull out the military from the areas.
“We want to use this opportunity to thank the federal government for using the military to restore peace in Munya, Shiroro, Rafi, Paikoro and Gurara local governments in Niger state.
“We also appeal to government not to pull out the military as planned because they have completed their assignment.
“If there is no strong security forces in these areas the people will still suffer in the hands of these criminals because before now there was high level of armed robbery and kidnapping in the communities,’’ he said.
He said that the military has curtailed the rampant attacks by the bandits since their stationing in the communities in January.
Umaru said: “I can assure you that since the soldiers arrived in the areas we have not had any incident in the communities.
“We want to thank the authorities for sending security forces to ensure safety of lives and property.’’
Earlier, Malam Imam Zazzaga, Chief Imam of Zazzaga community in Munya who spoke on behalf of other communities, appealed to government not to pull out the military from the five local government areas.
“These criminals are coming from Zamfara state and other areas where the government is currently dislodging them.
“Remember we are in the farming season, if we don’t have security to enable us stay back in our communities and farm, it means that we will die of starvation,’’ he said.
Zazzaga said that before the presence of the army the communities lost 40 persons to armed robbers and many others kidnapped for ransom.
