Visit Sokoto and other troubled states – PDP tells Buhari

Visit Sokoto and other troubled states – PDP tells Buhari

POLITICS DIGEST- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it called “the indefensible insensitivity” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the escalated killings in Sokoto, Niger, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau states and other parts of the country by terrorists.

The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Sunday, charged President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate leadership and empathy by visiting the troubled states in line

with his campaign promise to lead the fight against terrorism from the front instead of always pushing his responsibilities to others.

He said the numbness of the APC leaders to bloodletting as well as the failure of the APC, as a party, to proffer any tangible solution or forcefully take its government to task on security, validated apprehensions on APC’s reported complicity in the worsened insecurity in the last six years.

He said: “The least Nigerians expect of the APC is to forcefully give its government a marching order to develop a wholesome strategy to proactively tackle insecurity, including targeting the source of fund to terrorists, many of which were revealed by a foreign government, yet the APC government refused to take action.

“Unfortunately, the APC as a party of selfish and bloodthirsty ‘political bandits’ does not have the commitment, readiness or capacity to do so.

“The PDP again commiserates with victims of the horrific attacks.

“We also urge Nigerians not to resign to despondency but continue to support one another and remain focused as we scale up our collective efforts to rescue and rebuild our nation from misrule.”

The National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, had earlier in the day said the country seems to be in a war situation under the administration of a retired general.

The former Senate President, who said the level of insecurity under the watch of a retired general was threatening the foundation and unity of the country, rued the intractable banditry, killings and kidnappings.

President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Abuja on Sunday after attending the 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul, Turkey.

But while he was away, the insecurity in the country continued.

At least, 20 villagers were killed when bandits raided villages in the Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The villages attacked were Kauran Fawa, Marke and Riheya villages in Idasu, Giwa.

The state Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the attack in a statement issued on Sunday.

According to him, houses, trucks, and cars were also burnt, along with agricultural produce at various farms.

Also on Sunday, the Chairman, Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State, Danjuma Suleiman Nalango, ordered the closure of all public and private primary, secondary and tertiary schools in the local government area over a planned banditry attack on schools to abduct school children in Zungeru and neighbouring communities.

The Council Chairman said there was an intelligence report by the security agencies that armed bandits in their numbers were planning to strike in the day at Niger State Polytechnic and Government Girls Day Secondary School, both located in the outskirt of Zungeru town.

Also in Kano, a gang of armed robbers, on Saturday, attacked the Sabon Gari area along Cakwaya road, in Rano Local Government Area, operating for over three hours.