The Senate has urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to declare all known terrorist leaders wanted.

This call was made as a response to a motion aimed at stemming the increasing spate of kidnapping and general insecurity.

The motion entitled, “Urgent need to surmount all kinds of kidnappings, banditry and related security challenges in Wasagu-Danko, Sakaba and Yauri Local Government Areas of Kebbi State”, was sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah (Kebbi South).

The motion was co-sponsored by twelve other Senators.

Na’allah, in his presentation, said “The bandits are moving in hundreds from village to village, house to house in search of cattle to rustle and people to abduct.”

He said that, “In some cases, the houses and foodstuffs of the residents are entirely burnt down, rendering them homeless and without food to survive.

“Besides, many of their victims have been maimed while women, both old and young, are raped and dehumanized.”

He raised the alarm that terrorist have reportedly been laying siege around Yar-Kuka, Morai, Dankade, to Wadako and, recently in Bena, where 20 people were abducted.

He added that they have also found refuge in Ayu, where most of the residents were forced to flee, under Wasagu Chiefdom of Wasaga/Danko LGAS of Kebbi State.

“The same challenges are going on at Sakaba town under Sakaba LGA of the State unabated”, he said.

Na’allah said that on February 19, 2022, the bandits in large numbers passed through Waje, Sabon-layi, Zuttu and Kangon Wasagu, where they killed many people and herds of cattle rustled.

He observed that 12 villages in Wasagu Chiefdom Danko/Wasagu LGA are under incessant attacks of Bandits.

He bemoaned the kidnap of school children of Federal Government College Yauri, noting that more than ten are still in captivity.

“The Females among them were said to have been married to the bandits and reportedly three are said to have been released to their parents after having been allegedly impregnated by their captors.

“Last week, terrorist attacked Tungar Zarumai, under Yauri Emirate Council, killed and kidnapped so many people and set the entire village ablaze where foodstuff and other valuables were completely burnt down”, Na’allah said.

He warned that unless urgent steps are taken to tackle the security challenges, communities may be forced to resort to self-defence by acquiring arms and ammunitions.

Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), in his contribution, said the incidents of kidnappings and killings In Kebbi South are replications of what happened in Zamfara and Sokoto States.

“The military made it impossible for bandits to operate in Zamfara causing them to seek refuge in Kebbi State”, Aliero said.

Senator Sani Musa (Niger East), described the present security situation in the North-West part of the country as “alarming”.

He lamented the lack of military response to the recent killing of four officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Shiroro LGA.

Senator Nicholas Tofowomo (PDP, Ondo South), said the persistent insecurity across the country was a clear indication that the country’s internal security has failed.

Also contributing, Senator Uche Lilian Ekwunife (PDP, Anambra Central), said State Policing should be one of the means of addressing the nation’s security challenges.

“Are the Governors really the Chief Security Officers of their respective states? If the answer is yes, why can’t we support the creation of state policing?

“The security is getting off-hand in this country. This is time to forget our personal interests and support the creation of state policing”, the lawmaker said.

Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP, Anambra South), said the issue of insecurity was beginning to take a new dimension that may result in the eventual migration of persons from rural to urban areas in search of safety.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his concluding remarks said, “Let’s never be discouraged, because sometimes we feel why are we doing this, nothing is happening.

“There’s a limit to what we can do, but we must do what we are supposed to do well.

“When we debate things here, that is our primary responsibility.

“We can only do oversight to put pressure, but we cannot execute, because you can’t command anyone to go anywhere.

“What we do here to me is very significant. We should continue to debate it, talk about it, and follow up with some action.”

In line with this position the Senate urged President Muhammadu Buhari to massively deploy the law enforcement agencies to conduct a rigorous operation that would bring banditry to an end.