Insecurity: Nigeria risks imminent acute food crisis —Senate

Following the rising rate of insecurity in the country, the Senate has raised the alarm that the country may experience an acute food crisis if the situation was not immediately curtailed .

The Red Chamber has therefore sought adequate military presence in Niger East Senatorial District of Niger State.

The resolution was sequel to a motion, titled: “Urgent Need For Federal Government To Deploy Troops And Other Security Apparatus To Immediately Bring An End To The Menace Of Insurgency And Terrorism In Niger State And Other Parts Of Nigeria” sponsored by Senator  Sani Musa ( APC Niger East) adopted during plenary on Tuesday.

Presenting the motion, Senator Musa said, “For seven years now Niger East Senatorial District of Niger State have come under constant and sustained multiple deadly attacks by heartless, venomous and hydra headed Boko Haram terrorists who are always heavily armed with assorted sophisticated and dangerous weapons unleashing their horror on our innocent populace.

“The negative effects of atrocities committed by these heartless monsters in the period under review include among others, total collapse of the local economics of the affected victims, total collapse of review ional system in the affected areas, famine due to collapse of agricultural activities, displacement as a abuse and deadly subjugation.

“Unfortunately, these repeated attacks are taking place amidst abstinence, slightest hindrance, resistance or confrontation from the authorities concerned.

“About 42 communities across the two local government areas of Shiroro and Munya Local Cosmerament have so far fallen under the Boko Haram control with about 5,000 villagers already displaced in the last three days.

“Primary schools in Gwada, Kuta, Pandogari and Minna have hurriedly been turned to IDP camps following the sacking of nearly 5,600 villagers from their ancestral homes in Shiroro, Rafi and Munya local government areas in the last few weeks by bandits who raided the towns and villages.”

The senators in their various contributions, unanimously noted that the development could negatively affect the food sufficiency and economic diversification policy of the Federal Government.

They urged the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police to immediately deploy troops to defend the unarmed populace and bring back security to the affected communities.

The lawmakers noted that the only antidote to restoring confidence in the security and safety of the affected communities.

They said the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police should as a matter of urgency ensure a full military presence  Shiroro and Rafi local government areas respectively.

They also charged the military and security agencies to redesigned the modus operandi of their operations within the affected areas so as to curtail the escalating insecurity.

The Senate, in its resolutions further directed the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to as a matter national emergency provide relief materials and medical support team to the victims immediately.