Train attack: Senate calls for heavy bombardment of terrorists’ enclaves

By KINGSLEY OKOYE

The Senate on Tuesday called on the Army and Airforce to, as a matter of urgency, bombard terrorist enclaves across the country to restore peace and stability.

The call formed part of the resolution reached at the plenary on the continuing attacks on communities and public facilities in Kaduna State.

In a motion, Sen. Uba Sani (APC- Kaduna), said that terrorists had in recent times increased attacks on communities and public facilities in Kaduna state.

He said the latest attacks took place in some communities in Giwa Local Government, including Angwan Sarki Yahya, Tashar Shari, Bare-Bari, Tsaunin Natal, Dillalai, Durumi and Jatin Kanwa, all in Yakawada Ward.

“They killed 50 persons and kidnapped over 100 people. They also made strategic roads in Giwa Local Government no go areas.

“Not done with their devilish acts, they made an attempt to penetrate the Kaduna International Airport.

“Although the attack was foiled by vigilant security operatives, one person lost his life.

When people were trying to come to grips with a week-long wanton destruction of lives and property, the terrorists struck again,” he said.

He decried the Monday attack by bandits on a Kaduna-bound train carrying over 970 passengers around Kateri-Rijana axis in Kaduna.

“The train derailed after the first wave of attacks. Grenades and RPG were used. They rained bullets on all the coaches and some passengers were killed, while many sustained bullet wounds,” he noted.

He said that the unrelenting attacks called to question, the strategies and tactics being adopted by the security agencies.

Sani explained that the establishment of state police would bring law enforcement closer to the people.

Contributing, Sen. Gabriel Suswam (PDP-Benue) said that Kaduna state had become the new theatre of insecurity.

He said the lingering activities of terrorists in the state made it imperative for the appropriate authorities to take decisive action.

Suswam attributed the inability of the military to curtail growing incidents of terrorism to a clear failure of leadership.

Sen. Danjuma La’ah (PDP-Kaduna) said if the security situation in the country was not nipped in the bud, political leaders would become the main targets of terrorists.

The senate urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to declare full scale war against terrorists, to fully secure all national territory.

It further directed security agencies to always take steps to prevent the occurrence of similar incidence in the future.

It added that the military should monitor the inhabitants of new shanties around the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

The upper chamber urged the relevant agencies of government to step up their information gathering mechanism to, forestall the incessant attacks.

It also called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to assist the affected communities with relief materials.

The Senate observed a minute silence in honour of the victims of the Monday attacks. (NAN)