Worried by incessant killings in the country, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who thanked lawmakers and journalists for honouring his 63 birthday, said, “ the situation is not too good for the country.

He said: “Recently we lost 200 people in Zanfara and some number in other parts of the country.

“This is not the type of story we want to hear as a government and country.

According to him, it is a sense of sympathy, empathy and humanity that guided the low-key celebration, praying that God would help the leadership to find a lasting solution to the security challenges in the country.

His words: “ The country is going through a hard time security-wise. Challenges across all parts of the country have stretched the armed forces beyond their best to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty.

“The government has not been able to adequately provide for the needs of the armed forces, hence the resolve of the National Assembly to do its best in spontaneous reaction to appropriate funds for the effectiveness of the armed forces, and we promise to continue to do this.

“The situation is not too good as far as the unwanted killings by criminals are concerned.

“I, however, believe that things can be turned around for better within the remaining one and half years left for this present administration, inclusive of the Ninth National Assembly.”

He added that though the armed forces and security agencies, generally, have been retooled to check insecurity, he noted that more efforts and results were expected.

Lawan went on: “In supporting the security agencies for more potent war against the killers in the land, the National Assembly has appropriated over a trillion for security in the 2022 budget, which will be monitored very well for desired results.

“In achieving this, our relevant committees will ensure that the procurement process is transparent and what is projected is bought.

“The security situation in the country is begging for more attention, and it shall be given because that is the primary purpose of governance.”

He stated that despite the security challenge in the country, the Ninth National Assembly had collaborated well with the executive arm of government in giving dividends of democracy to Nigerians within the last two and half years.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday conveyed his condolences and that of his government to the people of Zamfara State on what he described as the “extremely unfortunate” mass killings of innocent people by retreating bandits.

The president, who said the recent incident was a very sad one for the nation, reiterated his earlier commitment to tackle the monster of terrorism head-on, giving assurances that the besieged communities and other Nigerians will not be abandoned to their fate.

In an address to the governor, commissioners, emirs, the chief judge and grand khadi, legislators, council chairmen and political leaders, President Buhari who was represented by a delegation led by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), expressed the strong determination of the administration to get rid of these bandits who have now been classified as terrorists.

“There will be no let-up in the ongoing campaign to rid Zamfara and other affected states of the menace of these terrorists. Since they have no regard for the sanctity of life, so shall they be dealt with,” he said.

“The government is fully informed of what is going on and will do whatever it takes to end this. We are here to talk to the governor and to assure the state that the administration is determined to do more to defend the life and property of the people,” he said.

President Buhari condoled with the government and the people of the state over the losses of life and directed the military and other security agencies to intensify the ongoing campaign until everyone and everywhere is safe.

The governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, who welcomed the delegation said that it is a testimony to the strong support of the president and the government at the center.

He appreciated the wisdom and vision of the president in approving the ongoing military campaign in the state, the effect of which has led to the dismantling of terrorists’ hideouts used as launching grounds for kidnapping, rustling and terrorism but said that more still needed to be done.

The governor added that president Buhari is an example to the world in the establishment of democratic values and commended him for responding positively to all the requests so far placed before him by the state government.

He called on the federal government to fortify the security of the state with additional armoured personnel carriers, APCs and to roll out a special intervention fund for Zamfara and other states equally affected by the scourge of insecurity.

The delegation conveyed the approval of the president for palliative items for the Anka and Bukkuyum emirates, the latest to be attacked, and for other areas equally affected by the attacks in the recent past.

Other members of the delegation were the minister of police affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, the minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruk, the national security adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd), Inspector General Of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and the Senior Special Assistant to the President On Media And Publicity, Garba Shehu.