TheCable

Ibrahim Gobir, senator representing Sokoto east, says soldiers from Niger Republic moved in to Sokoto when the Nigerian military abandoned residents over attacks by bandits.

He said this at the plenary session of the senate on Tuesday.

Sabi Abdullahi, the senator representing Niger north, had raised a motion on the need to enhance security operations in Niger state.

Gobir, while contributing to the debate on the motion, said the situation in Sokoto state is “pathetic”.

The senator said while the Nigerien army was protecting Nigerians and its citizens from banditry and other criminal activities, Nigeria’s military “looks the other way round.”

“The situation in Sokoto east as far as armed banditry is concerned is pathetic and tragic because it is only the Nigerien army that has been coming to their rescue while the Nigerian Army looks the other way round,” he said.

“Based on very reliable and verifiable information from the area, many a time, the people of the affected areas called on Nigerian army for help and protection against the bandits but no response.

“The Nigerien army has been assisting in wading off the bandits, the very reason why not less than 5,000 people in the affected areas have migrated to Niger Republic for safety.”

According to him, the affected people only get help from Niger Republic and not from Nigeria “be it from the military or the police.”

Earlier, while moving the motion, Abdullahi asked President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the deplorable security situation of Niger state.

The motion was adopted by the senate after it was put to a voice vote by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.