Rep: If we don’t tackle banditry now, we may all be kidnapped one day

Dachung Bagos, lawmaker representing Jos south/Jos east federal constituency, says governments at all levels must ensure urgent efforts are geared towards tackling banditry.

Bagos stated this on Friday in Jos, during an interactive session with journalists.

Communities in the northern region have come under attacks by bandits, with the most recent being the abduction of schoolgirls in Jangebe, Zamfara state, on Friday.

According to NAN, Bagos, who expressed worry over the increase in abductions, added that the military needs modern equipment to ensure success in its efforts.

“Kidnapping, armed robbery and banditry are very critical issues that should be taken very seriously in this nation,” Bagos noted.

“It is becoming a trend and if nothing is quickly done to nip it in the bud, we will wake up one day and all of us will be kidnapped.

“Our military is doing its best; they have well trained, intelligent and experienced personnel, but they lack the modern equipment to perform.

“Our military personnel will go on peace-keeping mission elsewhere and perform well, but back home, they can’t produce result. This is simply because they are using obsolete equipment.

“So, I want to call on the government and new service chiefs to acquire modern equipment so as to end insecurity in the country.”

The lawmaker said he is against negotiating or granting amnesty to bandits, because the move would be counter-productive.

He argued that amnesty was granted to the Niger Delta militants because “they agitated for something which was clear”.

“I want to agree with governor Nasir el-Rufai that government cannot negotiate with bandits. If that happens, I tell you this act of criminality will not end in years to come, because it will become a multi-million dollar business,” the lawmaker said.

“So, my position is that these bad guys should be confronted, arrested and be made to face the law, instead of negotiating or granting them amnesty.”