Member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has challenged the security operatives to trace the source of funding of banditry in the North the same way they went after #EndSARS protesters and closed their funding sources.
According to the Reps Spokesperson, there is no way kidnapping of school children by the bandits will take place without funding.
Speaking on a radio programme Ben Kalu’s Mandate streamed by ABN TV on Tuesday, the lawmaker said it takes resources for bandits to run their vehicles, camp their abductees in one place, and feed them for days or weeks as the case may be.
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“Somebody must be responsible for the funding of this operation. This is the truth. The security agencies should follow where the funding is coming from and cut it short.
“In as much as we chase them into the bush and all the rest of them we are doing, we must begin to ask where is the source of funding of this thing?
“If we were able to close the account of those doing #EndSARS, to cut off the funds being used for it, we can also cut the source of this banditry. Without funding, no crime will thrive because AK-47 is not a penny. They don’t sell it for Kobo and they have plenty of it and display same openly. So let’s find out where the money is coming from and cut it down.
“As a legislature, we will keep using legislative intervention to support the executive in their fight against insecurity. This we can guarantee” he said.
The lawmaker further added, “The model adopted by the security agencies during #EndSARs which sought and cut off the source of funding of the protest was a very brilliant one because it was useful in ending EndSARS protest which was penetrated and abused by hoodlums. In the process properties and lives were saved and life of the protest was cut short.
“This same model should be adopted by the security intelligence community. They should trace the formal and informal routes of the funding of these operations as well as the entire economic ecosystem of the operations including their beneficiaries to cut it off. Once it is cut off from the sources the activities will dry up.
“Coordinating a crime of such magnitude must take a lot of resources which does not look affordable to those carrying the arms, so let’s trace it to those arming them and cut it off.
“Guns don’t fire without a bullet, cut off the source of the Bullet and the gun will become a heavy burden in the hands of those holding it. Banditry will go once we cut off their sources of funds.
“It may not be as easy as the #EndSARS protest but it is a task that must be fulfilled by the security intelligence agencies. This is achievable and I am sure the new team of service chiefs really know what to do and will do it. Trace the money, cut it off and the activities will dry up”.
