FG Mulls Military Operation In Rugu Forest, Says Senate Committee
Federal Government on Wednesday restated its determination to deploy military forces to flush out suspected cattle rustlers in Rugu Forest in Katsina State.
Sen. Muhammadu Magoro, Chairman, Senate Joint Ad hoc Committee on Security, stated this in Faskari, Katsina State.
Magoro assured continued presence of military personnel and surveillance helicopters across the forest.
He urged residents to accord the government proper cooperation to rid the place of hoodlums.
The senator also held interactive session with victims of multiple armed men attacks in Faskari and Sabuwa local government areas at Maigora village.
Magoro said the committee was constituted by the upper chamber to obtain direct information from the victims at their respective areas.
He appealed to residents to collaborate with their community leaders and provide useful information on all suspicious movements in their communities.
The senator said that hoodlums had agents and those that harbour them within the settlements and must be exposed and brought to book.
In their separate remarks, the Transition Committee Chairman of Faskari Local Government, Alhaji Isiyaku Ahmad and Vice Chairman of Sabuwa Local Government, Alhaji Kabir Dahiru, expressed appreciation over the visit.
They said that the incessant attacks had hindered farming activities in the affected areas.
Also, the Ward Head of Faskari, Alhaji Lawal Garba, urged other community leaders to provide names of suspected hoodlums perpetrating the bad acts within the communities.
Garba explained that the attackers had subjected people to hardships, saying that the only option was to come out with truths and assist government to face the hoodlums.
However, Malam Sani Wakili and Alhaji Alhassan Woti, respectively appealed to government to establish military barracks in the forest as well as clear some portions up to at least 30 kilometres from the settlements.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many other victims’ families have testified and Magoro assured to forward their complaints and suggestions to the relevant authorities.
NAN reports that other members of the committee on the visit were Senators Barnabas Gemade, Atiku Bagudu, Joshua Lidani and Sani Sale.
The committee, which will also visit Zamfara and Kaduna states, had earlier visited Nassarawa, Plateau and Benue states on similar mission.
It will be recalled that gunmen had killed more than 117 persons in an attack on some communities in the two local governments on March 11 with 1, 915 persons displaced as a result of the attack. (NAN)