Taraba senator: Communities in Nigeria should have replica of Amotekun

Emmanuel Bwacha, senator representing Taraba south, says communities in the country should have a replica of Amotekun to tackle insecurity.

Amotekun was launched by governors of the south-west in January as a regional security initiative.

Speaking on the floor of the senate on Wednesday, Bwacha, deputy minority leader of the senate, said there should be a new strategy in tackling insecurity.

The senator said citizens should also complement the efforts of the security agencies.

“A few days ago officials of the federal ministry of works that were assigned to carry out a survey on a road that is supposed to be constructed in my senatorial district,” he said.

“Fortunately, I advised that they should have an escort of military personnel who went with them to carry out this survey. Barely 15 minutes of driving on the road – Tonga/Maraba road – in my constituency, they ran into a huge crowd of bandits armed with AK-47 rifles.

“On whether these insurgents are everywhere in the country is a matter that is not well known to the public. On sighting the vehicle of the armed men, they took to their heels and sped off with their machines.

“Two of them abandoned their machines because they were not prepared for such kind of confrontation. The soldiers exchanged gunfire with them. This has heightened fears among citizens of Taraba state and has given credence to speculation on social media that they have planned an attack like the one carried out in Garkida.

“I want to urge most Nigerian communities that this Amotekun kind of thing must be reflected in most of our communities because our military is overstretched. We must involve a new strategy to confront these people.”

On his part, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said it is their responsibility as lawmakers to find solution to the country’s security challenges.

“There is no day that will pass without one security breach; so it is our collective responsibility as members of the legislative arm of government to address this nagging security challenge that bedevil us,” Lawan said.