Connect with us

News

Insecurity: Declare Bandits As Terrorists – NASS Tells Buhari

Insecurity

With the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, occasioned by the onslaught of bandits in the Northern part of the country, the National Assembly had called on President Muhammadu Buhari to proscribe the marauding bandits as ‘terrorists”. They also asked the president to track down all their known leaders for immediate arrest and prosecution or declare them wanted with bounties placed over their heads

This motion was first moved on the floor of the upper legislative chamber of the NASS before it was also adopted by the lower chambers. Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir, the lawmaker representing the Sokoto East Senatorial Zone moved the motion in the red chamber, alongside eight others.

He said following the current onslaught against the bandits in Zamfara State, they have moved to his Senatorial District and are causing pains to the people of his district – with men of the force said to be the target of their recent killing spree.

The senator who cited the killing of a yet-to-be ascertained number of civilians including 21 security personnel recently in Dama and Gangara as a case in point said it showed how dangerous these bandits have become. According to him, losing such a number of trained officers would further deplete the numerical strength of the security personnel in the country, thereby jeopardizing the security architecture of the country.

Read Also: How NDA Kaduna Was Invaded By ‘Bandits’ – NA, Presidency Reacts

Senator Gobir also pointed out that the lopsided nature of the fight against insecurity across the nation may be the reason the battles are being lost by the government. He suggested that depending on the states to coordinate the fight against banditry may not prove successful. “The operation should be holistic instead of restrictive in order to produce effective and the desired results,” he said.

He, therefore, called on the Senate to adopt the motion as he said the issue with the bandits in the North requires concerted and urgent action by the declaration of total war on banditry.

The Senate, before adopting the motion and making a resolution, observed a minute of silence in honour of the fallen heroes and civilians who lost their lives in the unwholesome activities of the bandits.

Similarly, the House of Representatives has also asked the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to designate bandits, who have dominated the North-West and parts of the North-Central geopolitical zones, as terrorists.

Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, at the plenary on Thursday, moved a motion of urgent public importance to urge the chamber to back the Senate.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, had asked for those who were against the motion but the lawmakers chorused, “No!” So the motion was unanimously adopted through voice vote.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Peter Obi decries Demolition of brother’s property in Lagos – ‘Nigeria is lawless’

Former presidential candidate and ex-Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has condemned what he described as “coordinated lawlessness” after a property owned by his younger brother was demolished in Lagos without any formal notice or legal order.

In a statement posted to Facebook on Tuesday, June 25, Obi revealed that his brother arrived at the company’s premises in Ikeja, Lagos, only to find demolition underway.

He said security personnel at the scene claimed they were acting on a court judgment, yet failed to produce any legal documents or demolition order.

“How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a farce of a case?” Obi queried, disclosing that the judgment cited was allegedly against “unknown persons and squatters,” despite the property being a registered company site for over 15 years.

Obi said he rushed from Abuja to Lagos upon receiving a distress call, only to be shocked by what he witnessed during the demolition.

He said contractors on-site could not identify who sent them, and no official from any government agency appeared to clarify the situation.

“The whole situation screamed of coordinated lawlessness and impunity,” Obi stated, adding that two men who later appeared only asked him to report to a police station, also without any court backing.

Drawing broader implications, Obi said the experience reflects what ordinary Nigerians endure and explains why foreign investors are reluctant to do business in the country.

“Someone told me he has investments in Ghana, Senegal, and the Benin Republic but won’t touch Nigeria. His reason was clear: ‘Nigeria is a lawless country,’” Obi noted.

Continue Reading

News

I listen to those who insult me and learn governance lessons from them – Tinubu

pro-Tinubu group

President Bola Tinubu said he has grown a thick skin against insults from his critics and political enemies to the point that he now learns governance lessons from them.

Tinubu disclosed this while speaking at the town hall meeting held at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

The meeting was part of activities scheduled for the President’s visit in the wake of recent killings in the state. Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and other dignitaries, including North Central governors, received the President.

“No matter what I do, they will insult me. I read the papers and I learn from their criticism because I can’t see it all,” the President said.

Over 200 residents of the Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of the state were killed when assailants suspected to be herders invaded on Friday, June 13, 2025.

The unfortunate incident attracted both nationwide and foreign attention, with international media outlets reporting it. Following the outrage, Tinubu visited Benue on Wednesday to console the surviving victims of the killings.

Addressing the Governor, the President said, “Your political enemies don’t want you to succeed. Are you just realising that?”

Tinubu also urged leaders from across the region to work together as part of a non-kinetic approach to solving the hydra-headed insecurity situation.

“We cannot do without another.

“I will want us to create a leadership committee now to meet in Abuja to fashion out a strategy for lasting peace. And I am ready to invest in that peace,” he said.

Tinubu also charged security agencies to go after the perpetrators of the Benue killings, questioning the police on why no suspects have been arrested since the incident.

Police, I hope your men are on alert to listen to information. How come no arrest has been made?” the displeased President asked.

“I expect there should be arrests of those criminals.”

“I give you the assurance that we will find peace and convert this tragedy to prosperity.”

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Tinubu, you are incapable – Falz slams president over Benue killings

Nigerian rapper and activist, Falz, has condemned President Bola Tinubu over the recent mass killings in Benue State, accusing him of failing in his most fundamental responsibility as a leader.

In a strongly worded post shared on X on June 16, 2025, the rapper expressed deep frustration at what he described as a repeated pattern of government negligence amid growing insecurity across the country.

You have consistently shown that you are incapable of performing the primary duty of securing the lives and property of your citizens. This routine statement does not cut it.

Falz’s comments come in the wake of public outrage over the massacre of more than 200 people in parts of Benue State. The killings, which have been linked to suspected herdsmen attacks, have drawn widespread condemnation from Nigerians and prominent voices in entertainment.

After being called out online for what many people perceived as his silence on the matter, President Tinubu took to X to address the massacre, saying “Enough is enough.”

His statement read in part,

“I have been briefed on the senseless bloodletting in Benue State. Enough is enough! I have directed the security agencies to act decisively, arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict, and prosecute them.”

Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings.This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue.

Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony and differences are identified and addressed with fairness, openness, and justice.

Despite finally addressing the bloodshed, many Nigerians have still faulted Tinubu for not speaking on it early enough, especially after the Pope.

Continue Reading

Trending