Senate to Buhari: ‘Declare bandits as terrorists’

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday challenged President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to declare bandits as terrorists.

Also, the lawmakers , during the plenary asked President Buhari to declare all the known leaders of the bandits wanted and track them wherever they are for arrest and prosecution.

The resolutions followed a motion moved by Sen. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir representing Sokoto East and eight others.

Gobir lamented that his senatorial district has become a safe haven for bandits fleeing from the current onslaught against them in Zamfara State.

Presenting his case, he recalled the killing of 21 security personnel on Saturday in Dama and Gangara, during attacks that left a yet to be ascertained number of civilians either dead or kidnapped.

Sen. Gobir, who  noted that the latest incident highlights the magnitude of the problem, also emphasized that the matter requires the declaration of total war on banditry.

The lawmaker insisted that it is sad the nation keeps losing such a number of trained officers at the hands of bandits, a trend which he notes will jeopardise the security architecture of the country if not properly handled.