Members of the House of Representatives have asked the Federal Government to establish a police station and an army battalion at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, following the spate of kidnappings and banditry around the institution.
In a motion of urgent national importance on Wednesday’s plenary, Hon Garba Muhammad and his cosponsors: Hon Tajudeen Abbas, Hon. Shehu Balarabe, Hon. Muktar Shehu Ladan and Hon. Ibrahim Hamza, said the state of insecurity in Nigeria had been a matter of grave concern to all Nigerians.
The lawmakers lamented that, “The state of insecurity in Kaduna State and Northwest in general, has degenerated to an alarming level that in spite of the concerted efforts of government to put an end to it, armed banditry and kidnappings have continued unabated.”
In the motion paper, the lawmakers bemoaned “The activities of armed bandits, who have now extended their spate of kidnappings and abductions in to our citadel of learning particularly the Ahmadu Bello University.
“Distressed that on the 17th day of November, 2020, nine (9) students of the university were kidnapped along Kaduna-Abuja Road while the bandits sent a ransom demand of N270m before they are released.
“Further distressed that only on Monday 23rd November, 2020 at about 12.50 am, armed bandits invaded the house of Professor Bakari Girei and abducted him, together with his wife and daughter and, only after an exchange of fire with the Police Intelligence Response Team did the bandits release the wife and daughter while they escaped with the Professor; who is still in captivity.Notes that the bandits have been substantially aided in their wicked, despicable and nefarious activities by the absence of a wall or fence around the Samaru Campus of the University unlike the University of Maiduguri, and the Gwagwalada campus of the University of Abuja.
“Call on the Federal Government to urgently and without further delay erect a secure wall round the campuses of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as has been done for the University of Maiduguri in Maiduguri and the Gwagwalada campuses of the University of Abuja in order to forestall incursions from the bandits and other miscreants;
“Call on the Inspector General of Police to urgently and without further delay, establish units of its mobile police troops at the institution particularly at the Phase 2 segment of its Samaru campus to ensure security of lives and property at all times;
“Call on the Chief of Army Staff to urgently and without further delay, establish a battalion of the Nigerian Army at the southern border of the University.”.
