Niger East Senator Opposes State Police Proposal

Mohammed Sani, the Senator representing Niger East senatorial district and chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, has spoken out against the establishment of State Police, claiming that it will be misused by the political class.

Senator Sani stated that proper funding for the present police organization is essential, and that the resources allocated to sub-nationals are insufficient to support the State Police.

The senator made the statement while visiting the Kuta Internally Displaced Persons Camp to express his sympathy for the victims of the bandits’ attack.

He urged service chiefs to continue the existing campaign against bandits in Niger, as they are doing in Zanfara State.

This Kuta IDP camp shelters around 3000 displaced people, the most of which are women and children.

There is rising criticism about the camp’s poor amenities for meeting basic necessities.

Esther Jonah, the community health worker in charge of the IDP, stated that children die frequently as a result of poor health care and hygiene.

Hadiza Umaru, a mother of six, was expelled from her village four years ago after her husband was murdered and the food bank was destroyed by robbers.

According to her, all the IDPs needed was aid from authorities to restore peace in their areas. Her viewpoint echoed the camp’s consensus.

While addressing the IDPs, the senator stated that efforts are on to strengthen security in difficult areas of the state so that the IDPs can return home.

He appealed to service chiefs to extend their anti-bandit operations in Niger State to those in Zamfara State.