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By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the persistent wave of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and flood disasters ravaging communities in the Garga area of Kanam Local Government and other parts of Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State.
This followed the adoption of a motion on a Matter of Urgent Public Importance sponsored by the member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Ph.D, OON, who warned that the situation was fast deteriorating into a full-scale humanitarian crisis if not urgently addressed.
Gagdi lamented that since 2022, several communities in his constituency have suffered repeated attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling by armed bandits, often in collaboration with a few unscrupulous local elements, including compromised members of vigilante groups.
He expressed sorrow that the Village Head of Shuwaka, Mallam Hudu Alhassan Musa, who was recently abducted, was killed in captivity, while the Village Head of Birbyeng, Mallam Zubairu Garba Usman, has remained in the hands of his abductors for over a month.
“These attacks have led to the destruction of local markets, displacement of residents, and widespread fear, making it nearly impossible for farmers to access their farmlands,” Gagdi said, warning that the crisis has worsened food insecurity and deepened poverty in the constituency.
He further noted that the forest reserves around Wase and Garga in Kanam LGA, extending into Taraba and Bauchi States, have become operational bases for bandits who frequently launch cross-border raids on surrounding communities. He also drew attention to the devastation caused by flooding and rainstorms, which have destroyed farmlands, homes, and critical infrastructure, compounding the hardship already faced by residents.
The lawmaker recalled that he had previously moved three separate motions on similar security and environmental challenges in his constituency but regretted that little had changed due to inadequate security presence and insufficient humanitarian response.
To address the crisis, the House urged the Chief of Defence Staff to establish a Forward Operation Base in Garga to enhance rapid military response and called on the Inspector-General of Police to create a Divisional Police Headquarters in Gum area. It also urged the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to set up a Divisional Office in Gwamlar and tasked the Department of State Services (DSS) to expand its Special Operations Team to Kanam Local Government Area for intelligence-led operations.
Additionally, the House called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials and rehabilitation support to victims of insecurity and flood disasters in the affected communities.
In a related development, the House also resolved to investigate the alleged misappropriation of development grants received by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
This followed the adoption of another motion sponsored by Hon. Dr. Adedayo Samuel Adesola and co-sponsored by Hon. Nwaeke Felix Uche, prompted by fresh allegations made by former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, who accused the NFF of financial mismanagement and undermining football development in Nigeria.
The lawmakers noted that between 2015 and 2025, the NFF allegedly received over $25 million in development grants from FIFA and CAF, with little or no tangible infrastructure or programs to justify the huge inflow of funds. They recalled that in December 2016, FIFA sent an audit query over the mishandling of $1.1 million in development grants, reporting that $802,000 lacked proper documentation, an issue that led the then Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, to order an independent audit.
Hon. Adesola also cited allegations that $1.2 million of FIFA funds purportedly spent on constructing the Birnin Kebbi Stadium resulted in a substandard facility, raising questions about transparency in the federation’s financial dealings.
He warned that with another African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers approaching, it was imperative to take decisive action to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s football administration.
Consequently, the House resolved to constitute a special investigative committee to scrutinize the activities and financial records of the NFF from 2015 to date and to invite its leadership to appear before the committee with comprehensive records of all receipts and disbursements. The move, lawmakers said, is aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance within the NFF while restoring both national and international confidence in Nigeria’s football management.