The Senate on Wednesday raised alarm over the worsening security situation in Katsina State, particularly the Funtua Zone, following fresh bandit attacks that reportedly killed at least 35 people within 24 hours across three local government areas.
Lawmakers urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently fulfil his pledge to establish a military barracks in the area and warned against negotiating with armed groups terrorising rural communities.
The call followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Senator Dandutse Mohammed (Katsina South), seeking immediate and comprehensive federal intervention to halt the escalating violence. The motion was admitted for debate after receiving overwhelming support from senators.
Presenting the motion, Dandutse said Katsina had been plunged into mourning by coordinated attacks, including an ambush on Mobile Police Force personnel in Guga, Bako Local Government Area, where three policemen were killed and two others critically injured.
He disclosed that within less than 24 hours, 24 people were killed in Faskari Local Government Area, eight in Bakori, two in Funtua and one in Kankara.
The senator warned that persistent insecurity had left more than 50,000 farmlands inaccessible, posing a serious threat to food security and livelihoods in the largely agrarian zone.
“The continuous bandit attacks will significantly affect food production and agricultural activities, thereby jeopardising food security and the livelihoods of the people,” Dandutse said.
He recalled that during a recent visit by Katsina State elders to the President, Tinubu pledged to site a military barracks in the Funtua Zone, urging him to fulfil the commitment and ensure sustained security operations until criminal elements are eliminated.
Seconding the motion, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau said the Federal Government had already directed the military to intensify operations in Katsina, particularly around the Funtua axis, while calling for increased troop deployment, advanced technology and more decisive action.
