Senator Shehu Sani has urged governments to be more proactive in addressing security challenges facing the northern part of the country.
Sani said this on Tuesday as he received groups from Birnin Gwari, Chikun local government areas and representatives of Zamfara indigenes resident in Kaduna.
Sani said: “Today the entire Northern Nigeria is under siege. In the North West it is the armed bandits, the North Central is experiencing Herdsmen attacks and the North East is ravaged by insurgents.
“In Kajuru, it is Muslims and Christians against one another, in Birnin Gwari it is banditry and kidnapping and along Kaduna Abuja Highway, it is kidnapping and raping.
“I have been visiting you regularly and this time you are in my residence. I have listened to your lamentation, tears, cries and appeals.
“I believe any conscious Nigerian is aware of what you are facing in Birnin Gwari. I must say the issue of Birnin Gwari reflects the fears and dangers we are facing in North West today.
“Kidnapping is what we used to hear of in Niger Delta. Today Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Niger and Zamfara States are under siege.”
Sani also blamed the challenges of the region on the lukewarm attitude of Northern political leaders.
Presenting a letter of complaint on the insecurity challenges, leader of the Coalition of Birnin Gwari Associations, Nasir Khalid, said several communities had been under attack of bandits since the eve of the general elections to date.
They appealed to the lawmaker to deliver the letter to the Senate for immediate intervention.
