The Senate yesterday rejected move by Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara) seeking declaration of state of emergency in Zamfara State.
The senator had prayed the Senate to declare a state of emergency on the state over incessant killings by bandits in Zamfara communities.
Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura ( APC, Zamfara) has moved a motion on the recent killing of 42 persons in Birane village, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Marafa also requested investigation into claim by Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari that security agencies were alerted on an impending attack in the area 24 hours before the killings.
“I want the Senate to probe it, who did the governor reported the issue to? Who gave him the security report?” he said.
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (APC, Kano) urged security agencies and the three tiers of government to be alive to their responsibilities.
“We need to find out who are these people. Are they Boko Haram? Are they armed robbers? Why are they killing the good people of our great country?” he said.
The Senate resolved to urge the Federal Government to direct the Nigerian Air Force to use air surveillance to identify the location of the armed bandits within the sparse forest and flush them out.
It also urged the Federal Government to mount diplomatic pressure on Niger Republic and Chad to forestall criminals from using their territories to launch attack on Nigeria.
The senate also urged Zamfara State Government to upgrade, recruit and generously fund state and local vigilance teams with the aim of improving security in the affected areas.
