Reps demand immediate action over Zamfara killings, N100m farmers’ taxes

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives on Tuesday The House however resolved to call on the President Bola Tinubu to urgently adopt a new security strategy to end killings and criminal activities in Zamfara State.

The House also directed the Minister of Defence and all Service Chiefs to ensure a massive, coordinated operation to neutralize the bandits. Take any further actions necessary to address the crisis.

The House further mandated the Committees on Defence, Army, Navy, Air Force, National Security and Legislative Compliance to ensure strict implementation of the resolutions.

The resolutions were sequel to a motion of urgent public importance detailing how armed bandits invaded Keta, Bilbis, Kwaren Ganuwa, Danjiga and other surrounding wards, killing more than 10 people and kidnapping at least 130 residents.The bandits were also said to have imposed a N100 million levy on the already devastated communities.

Leading the debate, the sponsor of the motion, Rep Kabiru Amadu at plenary on Tuesday. informed the House that the attacks were carried out by groups of heavily armed men who operated freely on motorcycles two to three on each bike moving from one community to another for up to three weeks without confrontation from security agencies.

He added that the violence extended beyond Tsafe, citing search findings that revealed further killings in Ruwan Dawa under Magami Ward, where 17 people were murdered and agricultural produce looted. In Tofa, 14 people were reportedly killed; in Ungwar Malami and Gidan Maza, 18 people were killed; Sabon Gida recorded eight deaths, while 11 farmers were murdered in Zonai.

Amadu expressed worry that the N100 million tax demand was “unjust and unattainable,” especially for rural residents whose livelihoods mostly small-scale farming and petty trading have been destroyed by recurring attacks.

The lawmaker lamented that the killings listed were only a fraction of the numerous attacks recorded within one month in the constituency.

“This crisis has created dire humanitarian situation with residents lacking access to basic needs such as food, healthcare and security; fear prevails as communities live under the threat of further attacks and demands for ransom.

“The above-mentioned killings are just few examples of many killings and kidnapping that have taken place only within one month in my constituency,” he lamented.

The motion was unanimously adopted by the House.

The post Reps demand immediate action over Zamfara killings, N100m farmers’ taxes appeared first on Vanguard News.