The Niger House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging the state government to establish or designate a special hospital to treat banditry and kidnapping victims. 

This followed the adoption of a motion by Haruna Duza (PDP-Munya) at Tuesday’s plenary in Minna.

Presenting the motion,Mr Duza said victims go through physical, physiological, mental, and emotional trauma due to violence by the bandits.

He said the victims only get physical treatment from health facilities without getting physiological and emotional support to help them overcome the trauma.

“These victims live their lives in fear for the rest of their lives, and for some of them, adjusting back to normal life becomes very difficult.

“The victims need swift medical attention and professional counseling in a secure environment to help them overcome the trauma,” he said.

He added that there was a need to have a dedicated hospital centralised within the state capital that would give special attention to victims of banditry and kidnapping.

In his contribution, Mohammed Idris (APC-Tafa) recounted his ordeal in the hands of bandits and the trauma the incident had left on him since his abduction in 2021.

He appealed to his colleague to give the motion the desired attention. He urged the executive to designate a special unit in the state to give special attention to victims of bandits.

Also, Bello Bako (APC-Rijau) and Nasir Umar (APC-Paiko) said the health facilities in the state were already overwhelmed. Hence, victims of banditry and kidnapping do not get the required attention to help them out of the trauma.

They urged the government to strengthen the guidance and counseling departments across the state facilities to give physiological and emotional support to victims of banditry.

Speaker of the house, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, while reading the resolution, called on the state government to establish or designate a special hospital for the treatment of victims.

(NAN)