Abuja, June 9, 2023 – Sen. Sani Musa, representing APC Niger-East Senatorial Constituency (APC, Niger East), has condemned the growing insecurity in his constituency.
Musa made the condemnation in a statement on Friday, saying the cold blooded murder of innocent villagers in Paikoro, Shiroro and Rafi Local Governments Areas were disturbing.
He said that than than 20 persons had died in bandits attacks, while between 50 and 70 villagers have been kidnapped and taken into custody by bandits who also destroyed their houses and made away with valuable items, including money.
He also lamented that women and girls were being raped by their captors.
Musa listed the affected villages to include Kwagana, and Kaffinkoro wards in the Paikoro Local Government Area, Sabo Kabula in Munya LGA and Pandogari ward in Rafi LGA.
He said the spate of attacks in the senatorial district had reached alarming proportion in the last few weeks.
The senator said the bandits, by their actions, were testing the will and capacity of the Federal and Niger State governments to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.
He, however, expressed confidence that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration will deal with the criminals ruthlessly in the coming days.
He said the saddest aspect of the saga was that the victims were being subjected to inhuman treatment with some chained together to prevent their escape from their captors.
The Senator said the gunmen were demanding various sums of money, ranging from N1.5 million to N4million from families of their victims as ransom.
He expressed regret that the criminals, after collecting the huge sums of money, still failed to release their captives.
“They are being kept under the rain and sun. We are calling on the Federal Government to immediately take steps to rescue those in the custody of the gunmen so that they can begin to live normal lives, especially now that “we are in the rainy season when those kidnapped are supposed to be on their farms doing what they know how best to do to earn a livelihood”.
Musa also urged the security agencies to live up to their responsibilities by combing the forests to free those detained there, while also appreciating the efforts of our security agencies.
He commiserated with the families of the captives assuring that” very soon their loved ones will regain their freedom.” (GBN)
