Labaran Maku, a former information minister, has raised the alarm over numerous killings going on in Nasarawa state and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to place the state under special security surveillance.
Labaran Maku
This Day reports that Maku made the appeal speaking with journalists on August 10, Monday, in Abuja.
The ex-minister dismissed the claim by Tanko Al-Makura, the governor of Nasarawa, that peace had returned to the state. Maku stressed that the attacks on many rural communities were continuing and a very serious problem was going on across the two senatorial zones of the state.
“In Nasarawa South senatorial district, the problem is more endemic. You have places like Barkin Kogi, Asakao, Sabon Gida, and Gambo among others that are completely empty today. As we speak, farmers are still on the run, as there are still killings taking place; people are not safe because of insecurity, attacks are still going on virtually on a regular basis,” he said.
Maku also expressed concern that the state and federal capital territory might suffer food scarcity if the attacks on farmers continued.
“This state of insecurity has become endemic and it seems not to be going away and what is even more worrisome is the attitude of the governor who feels unconcerned. The merceneries operate in a number of communities as they attack, kill, disappear and continue the circle unchallenged.
“I am concerned because our people need peace and our rural areas who are mostly affected need protection but are getting none of it. This is the food producing areas of the State and best in the country because when you hear about Middle Belt being the food basket of the nation, it is this area being constantly attacked. Most of the food we eat in Abuja and its environ comes from here so it could lead to scarcity,” he lamented.
Continuing his statement, the former minister called on the president, Governor Al-Makura and other stakeholders in the state to find ways of restoring peace to Nasarawa.
“It is better we seek for peace rather than play politics with our security. I don’t know how we are going to feed next year because farmers are being attacked on daily or weekly basis. These people already live in the worst of conditions with no electricity, roads and water,” he said.
According to Maku, the state governor is guilty of nonchalance attitude towards the state of insecurity. He warned that Nasarawa state is failing economically and socially; therefore, he called on the governor to “stop his nonchalant attitude towards insecurity and admit the problem instead of denying it”.
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