Lawmakers in the upper chamber of Nigeria’s national assembly on Tuesday expressed worry over the insecurity in the country, noting that the situation has reached an alarming stage and needs drastic actions.
The Senate noted that with bandits, Boko Haram and other insurgents terrorising most of the northern states, criminal elements may soon launch attacks in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. The lawmakers, thus, reached a resolution that its leadership meet with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), over the insecurity prevailing in the country.
The red chamber summoned the service chiefs to brief it on their efforts to address insecurity. It also invited the Director-General of Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama over the situation in Chad and the implications on Nigerian security.
The Senate also called for the immediate recruitment of more security personnel and the procurement of sophisticated weapons for the armed forces to fight terrorists, bandits and other criminals unleashing terror on Nigerians.
Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger), who raised a motion on the activities of bandits and terrorists in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi local government areas of Niger State, that prompted the resolution said that almost seven years now, Niger East Senatorial District of Niger State have come under constant and sustained multiple deadly attacks “by heartless, venomous and hydra-headed Boko Haram terrorists who are always heavily armed with assorted sophisticated and dangerous weapons unleashing their horror on our innocent populace.”
Senator Musa said over 475 persons had been killed by bandits and terrorists in Niger East from January 2020 to date.
Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger) expressed fears that due to the closeness of Niger State to Abuja, the attacks may escalate to FCT. Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu), said any government that failed to protect its people had lost legitimacy.
Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue), said the executive had shown clear incompetence to address the situation, adding: “Our lives as senators are in danger. Nobody is attaching value to human life again. Maybe our president doesn’t know the magnitude of this situation.”
Senator Biodun Olujimi noted that lack of political will to handle insecurity was the problem, adding that the nation was almost inching towards Syria. Senate President Ahmad Lawan, in his closing remarks, asked the executive to request a supplementary budget to procure more equipment for the security agencies.
