Senate urges Nigerian govt to declare kebbi insecurity, displacement national emergency 

The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to treat worsening insecurity and mass displacement in Kebbi State as a national security and humanitarian emergency.

The resolution followed a motion by Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi South) on deadly bandit attacks in the state, which he said had forced residents to flee their homes and abandon their livelihoods amid intensified military operations in neighbouring states.

Aliero said the influx of bandits from neighbouring states had triggered killings, displacement and heightened fear across communities in Kebbi.

He called on security agencies to intensify coordinated operations and urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide immediate relief to displaced persons.

Adopting the motion, the Senate urged the Federal Government to provide additional personnel, logistics and funding to prevent further attacks and protect vulnerable communities.

It called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke; and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to strengthen joint operations with intelligence agencies.

The upper chamber also urged the deployment of more security personnel and equipment, alongside improved surveillance and intelligence gathering to neutralise armed groups.

It stressed the need for a comprehensive response to prevent further loss of lives and stop residents from being displaced from their ancestral homes.

The Senate directed NEMA to assess the needs of displaced persons and provide food, water, shelter, clothing, bedding, medical supplies and sanitation facilities.

It also urged the Federal and Kebbi State governments to establish a joint security and humanitarian response mechanism to coordinate emergency interventions.

The Senate said efforts to restore security must be matched with the safe, voluntary and dignified return of displaced residents. It called for the restoration of essential services, rehabilitation of damaged facilities and recovery of livelihoods.

The chamber further called for a thorough investigation into the killings, including the deaths of three employees of Hitech and other victims.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, sympathised with the affected communities and said President Bola Tinubu was committed to restoring peace and assisting displaced residents.