Northern Senators Make 1 Demand from Tinubu After Killing of 35 Despite N50m Ransom
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was urged to address the growing insecurity in the northern region after bandits reportedly killed 35 kidnapped villagers in Zamfara state
- The Northern Senators Forum, led by Abdulaziz Yar’adua, made this demand while condemning what he described as heinous acts
- Speaking on behalf of Northern senators, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, commended Tinubu’s ongoing support for the security sector but stressed that more training of personnel is urgently needed
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
The Northern Senators Forum has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support of security agencies, but said more needs to be done to tackle the growing insecurity in the region.
Source: Facebook
Senators react to killing of 35 in Zamfara state
Abdulaziz Yar’adua, chairman of the forum, stated this in reaction to the recent killing of 35 people in Zamfara state.
Legit.ng reported that 35 kidnapped villagers from the Banga community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area were murdered despite the payment of a hefty N50 million ransom to their abductors.
In reaction, Zamfara Good Governance Forum demanded Governor Dauda Lawal’s resignation.
The group accused the governor of lacking a clear security plan and secretly engaging with bandit leaders despite publicly rejecting amnesty.
The heinous act do not represent our values - Northern senators
But speaking on the development, Yar’adua described the killings as “heinous” and maintaining that such act do not represent the values of the northern region.
Source: Facebook
“We condemn this heinous act in the strongest possible terms and declare that it does not reflect the values, people, and aspirations of the north,” he said.
“Our region is known for its hospitality, peace, and tranquillity, and such acts of violence only serve to undermine our cherished values.”
As reported by The Cable, Yar’adua expressed sympathy with the people of Zamfara state and offered prayers for the families of the victims.
Support for security: Tinubu told to take action
He acknowledged Tinubu’s ongoing support for the security sector including funding and mass recruitments but stressed that increased training and tactical coordination were urgently needed.
“We hope that more training of personnel will be achieved to curb incidents of this kind,” Yar’adua said.
Legal challenges in combating kidnappings
To tackle the burgeoning kidnap-for-ransom industry, the Nigerian government introduced strict legislation in 2022, criminalising ransom payments with a mandatory sentence of at least 15 years in prison. The law also stipulates the death penalty in cases where abducted victims are killed.
However, enforcement remains a major challenge. No individuals have been prosecuted under these laws to date, and many families continue to pay ransoms out of desperation, citing the authorities’ inability to safeguard lives.
Read more about Tinubu reaction to attacks:
- Tinubu asked to sack ‘incompetent’ Defence Minister Badaru
- Tinubu gives fresh marching order to service chiefs, IGP over Benue killings
- Tinubu issues fresh directives over Benue, Plateau killings, "Enough is enough"
Zamfara governor told to immediately resign
In a similar development, Legit.ng reported that Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state has been urged to immediately resign from office.
The Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability in the North-West (COGGAN) said Governor Lawal should resign over failure” to deliver on his campaign promises.
Source: Legit.ng
