Connect with us

Politics

Senate approves N10bn to combat killings in Zamfara

Published

on

The Nigeria Senate on Wednesday approved the addition of N10 billion in the 2019 budget as intervention fund to cater for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are victims of killings in Zamfara State by bandits.

Adopting a motion on the matter brought by Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa (APC, Zamfara), members of the Red Chamber decried the wanton killings of Nigerians across the country on a daily basis.

‎‎Leading debate on the motion, Marafa said the activities of armed bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnapping for ransom in villages and communities have remained unabated in the state.

The Senate recommended that the Federal Government set up an adhoc committee to be known as Presidential Initiatives on Zamfara State (PIZAMS), with a 10-year life span to manage the said funds and subsequent allocations and donations‎.

“The activities of these armed bandits and cattle rustlers have since 2011 to date, resulted in the death of many people.

“This is in addition to creating humanitarian crises which included, but not limited to, growing number of widows, rape victims and orphans.

“A conservative estimate of 11,000 male adult have been killed by armed bandits, leaving behind an average of 22,000 widows, at 2 wives per person and an estimated 44,000 orphans, at an average of 4 children per deceased.

Read also: Senate overrides Buhari on 2 declined bills

“Owing to cultural and religious consideration, the burden of these widows, orphans, rape victims and displaced persons are borne largely by close relatives.

“Their needs are borne by extended families and sometimes immediate neighbours, who are now overstretched to a point they can no longer cope,” he said.

In their separate contributions, senators said the level of insecurity in the country was becoming alarming and that government must take urgent measures to protect the lives of Nigerians.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now