The Kano State House of Assembly has launched a legislative probe into the utilisation of monthly security allocations released to the state’s 44 local government councils following renewed bandit attacks in parts of the state.
The development follows mounting concerns that funds intended to strengthen security may not be translating into adequate operational support.
The House adopted the resolution on Wednesday after considering a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Ghari/Tsanyawa Constituency, Garba Gwarmai, during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Isma’il Falgore.
Moving the motion, Gwarmai painted a grim picture of the security situation in Tsanyawa Local Government Area, saying incessant attacks by suspected bandits had left residents living in fear and disrupted farming, education, healthcare delivery and other socio-economic activities.
He told lawmakers that the latest attack occurred in the Yan Cibi community of Yan Kamaye Ward, where armed bandits allegedly attempted to abduct residents and rustle cattle before they were repelled by security operatives.
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According to the lawmaker, the attack claimed the life of a community leader and vigilante member, Yusuf Adamu, while several other residents sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
While commending the military and the police for recovering a significant number of the rustled cattle, Gwarmai said the difficult terrain along the Kano-Katsina border prevented security personnel from pursuing the fleeing attackers.
He, however, questioned the effectiveness of the monthly security allocations reportedly disbursed to local government councils, arguing that frontline security operatives continued to grapple with inadequate logistics despite the availability of the funds.
“It is imperative to investigate how these security allocations are being utilised because the operational challenges facing security personnel do not reflect the resources reportedly released for that purpose,” Gwarmai told the Assembly.
After deliberations, the House unanimously directed its relevant committee to investigate the utilisation of the security allocations by local government councils and ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the funds.
The Assembly further urged the Kano State and Federal Governments to urgently strengthen security architecture in border communities by deploying additional security personnel, providing improved logistics and adopting proactive measures to prevent further attacks and halt the spread of banditry to other parts of the state.
