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The Senate has advised the Federal Government to overhaul the security response to incessant attacks of bandits in the North-West and the North Central regions of the country.
The Red Chamber however advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to constitute a task force to secure farmlands in order to ensure increased food production and security.
The senators noted that the development would address the rising cost of food items being experienced nationwide by Nigerians.
The resolutions were sequel to a motion co-sponsored by Senator Nasiru Zangon-Daura (APC, Katsina North) and 10 other lawmakers from the North-West zone.
Moving the motion during plenary, Zangon-Daura lamented the worsening insecurity in the North-West with many Nigerians killed and others held in captivity.
He said despite huge funds allocated to reinstate peace in the region, no significant result had been achieved.
He said, “The incessant banditry attacks in the North-West region will significantly impact food production and agricultural activities, thus jeopardising food security and livelihoods of the people in the affected states of the region, especially in the present rainy season.”
In his contribution, Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South), urged President Tinubu to "declare a state of emergency in the North-West, to enable the military to run the bandits out of town."
Meanwhile, Senator Muntari Dandutse (APC, Katsina South) said 122 persons were killed in his senatorial district in four local government areas within one week and called for the political will to end the killings.
“There is no synergy, no coordination, no cooperation among the security agencies. We should have the political will to deal with these criminals,” he said.
The Senate also adopted a motion moved by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) and seconded by Senator Emmanuel Udende (APC, Benue North East) that all resolutions on security in the NorthWest should apply to the North Central geopolitical zone.
