Insurgency: Senate tasks FG on establishment of military base in Kwara

The Nigerian Senate has tasked the Federal Government on establishment of military base in Kwara South Senatorial district due to the scourge of banditry activities that has claimed several loss of lives.

Expressing concerns, Senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District, Oyelola Yisa Ashiru said on Thursday that because of sizable population and natural resources including tourism attraction of the place government must do everything to avert escalation.

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Oyelola said bandit attacks, kidnappings, and killings have reached an “alarming levels” in Ifelodun local government area, forcing many residents to flee their homes.

According to the Kwara lawmaker who said, “the population of Ifelodun Local Government Area putting it together is more than the rest of the six local government of my senatorial zone” and economic potential of the area can never be neglected.

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The lawmaker alleged that no fewer than 12 forest guards and local vigilantes were recently killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Oke-Ode, maintaining that several traditional and community leaders were also slained in Babanla, Sagbe, Oro Ago, Ganmu – Alheri and other areas across Ifelodun, Isin, Ekiti, and Oke Ero LGAs.

Furthermore the lawmaker drawn the attention of government to the fact that at least 142 persons have been kidnapped and more than 70 killed in the last year across Kwara south, while 25 communities have been deserted due to recurring attacks allegedly.

While reacting to questions from the news Men regarding the response
by the federal government and security agencies, he said, “the response was episodic, inadequate, and reactive, leaving vast ungoverned spaces under the control of criminal gangs,” he said.

The lawmaker, who also the senate deputy majority leader, urged the federal government to deploy additional troops and special units to clear the forests and restore normalcy in affected communities.

While thanking his colleagues for unanimously support his position in his motion on Wednesday, He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide humanitarian relief to displaced persons and compensate families of forest guards and vigilantes killed in the line of duty.

The Senate in their wisdom directed its committees on defence, police affairs, and national security to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of affected areas and report back within two weeks.

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