Two members of the House of Representatives, Shawulu Kwewum and Danjuma Usman have lamented the killing of soldiers and civilians by suspected bandits in the southern area of Taraba State.
They called for the deployment of more personnel and equipment to address the insecurity in the area.
The lawmakers in a motion under matters of urgent public importance, during an emergency plenary of the House on Wednesday, said the attacks have seen innocent civilians and soldiers killed.
They stressed the need to increase the capacity of the armed forces and security agencies to forestall further loss of lives.
“Worried that the massive movement of the bandits to the area had been reported by residents to government agencies and functionaries as well as security agencies some days back.
“Also aware that Security agencies especially the 93 BN of the Nigeria army and some units of the Special Forces (operations Wild Stroke) had engaged the bandits successful last week and seized dangerous weapons from them.”
Danjuma Shiddi who had sponsored a bill for the establishment of forest guards across the country decried the slow pace in passing the bill into law.
He, therefore, called for the establishment of forest guards, using locals within affected areas, a move he believed will serve a complementary role in intelligence gathering for the security forces.
The green chamber observed a minute silence in honour of the civilians, policemen, and the six soldiers who were gruesomely butchered to death by the bandits
The House urged the Chief of Army Staff Lt.Gen.Farouk Yahaya and Inspector-General of Police IGP Usman Alkali to deploy more security men to effectively secure the Takum local council in Taraba State and fish out the bandits.
PIAK