Senator Garba Maidoki of Kebbi South has sent a blunt warning to the federal government, saying authorities know who the bandits are, where they are, and what they want; and it’s time to act decisively.
Speaking during a plenary session on Wednesday over the rising wave of abductions in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger states, Maidoki expressed a mix of relief and frustration over the recent release of 24 schoolgirls abducted from his constituency.
“I am very happy and sad at the same time. Happy in the sense that the 24 girls from Maga, in my own constituency, that were abducted have been released, and they are all safe and healthy. They have not been molested,” he said.
But the lawmaker slammed the continuing attacks despite what he described as clear intelligence on the perpetrators.
“We know who these bandits are,” Maidoki declared.
“We know where they are. We know what they want. What is left for us to conclude? If we are going to do negotiation, do it and finish it. If we are going to fight, we’ll fight it to the finish.”
He also demanded answers over the suspicious withdrawal of security personnel from the school just before the attack.
“The issue that must take precedence is who withdrew the soldiers from Maga Primary School and on whose instruction.
“The world wants to know. Nigerians want to know. We that are particularly affected want to know, because if we don’t get to the bottom of this, this incident will be repeating itself,” he noted.
