By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has urged security chiefs to deploy additional security personnel to Namu and Bwall communities in Plateau State. This call to action aims to flush out bandits and restore peace to the affected areas.
The lawmakers also urged the Director General of the Department of State Service and other Intelligence Agencies to strengthen their intelligence networks. This would enable them to preempt and respond effectively to attacks, as well as collaborate with local communities to identify and address underlying issues fueling banditry.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has been directed to provide relief materials to the affected communities through the National Emergency Management Agency and National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.
These resolutions were adopted following a motion moved by Hon. John Dafaan, highlighting the urgent need for federal government intervention to stop banditry attacks and kidnapping in Namu and Bwall districts, Quan’an Pan LGA, Plateau State.
According to Hon. Dafaan, the relentless banditry attacks and kidnapping in the area have reached catastrophic proportions, necessitating immediate federal intervention. The recent invasion by bandits resulted in the killing of at least eight people, scores seriously injured, and over 15 people kidnapped.
The affected communities, Namu and Bwall, are predominantly agrarian, with 90% of their citizens relying on farm produce as their primary source of livelihood. The continued incidence of banditry and kidnapping has severely impacted the microeconomic activities in the communities and surrounding areas.
The House Committee on Legislative Compliance has been mandated to ensure compliance with the resolutions and report back to the House. Additionally, the House observed a minute of silence in honor of the deceased victims of the banditry attacks.
The Plateau State government has been working to address security concerns, with Governor Caleb Mutfwang recently meeting with stakeholders to discuss ways to improve security in the state.
