The Nigerian Senate has invoked its earlier resolution to invite all service chiefs for an inquiry session next week, with the view to resolving the insecurity plaguing the country.
On December 30, 2023, the lawmakers summoned the service chiefs, following the Christmas Eve attacks by bandits in Barkin Ladi and Bokkos Local Government Areas of Plateau State, which claimed several lives.
The resolution of the upper chamber follows five separate motions by different senators on the security situation in the country, particularly kidnapping, murder, banditry and the killing of persons, even after the collection of ransom, as well as other criminal activities in the nation.
The number of motions on insecurity has forced the senate into a closed session to deliberate on consolidating all the motions into a single one, which was thereafter be endorsed by all 109 lawmakers.
One of the motions is on the January 5 invasion of communities in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State by bandits, killing villagers and displacing many others, moved by the Senate Minority Leader, and Senator representing Benue South, Abba Moro.
The Senate decried the various kidnappings within the Federal Capital Territory, and the several cases of kidnappings across the country, where huge ransoms are paid and several of the victims still get killed.
The Senate Leader narrated the recent killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State and the abduction of primary school pupils in Emore Ekiti, which have further aggravated the level of insecurity in the country.
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In his presentation, Senator Bamidele also noted the unfortunate bomb explosion at Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State, where not less than five lives were lost, and several residential houses, schools, hotels, and religious centres were destroyed, as well as the killings of several residents of Mangu, Bokkos, and Barki Ladi in Plateau State.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, lamented in his submission that people have turned kidnapping into merchandise, where middlemen are now collecting money from victims.
He stressed that the outcome of the inquisitive session next week with the Service Chiefs will be discussed with the President, Bola Tinubu.
He assured that the National Assembly, in collaboration with the executive, will make laws and aim for the immediate improvement of the economy, to ensure the safety of all Nigerians.
The Senate, thereafter, observed a minute of silence in honour of the departed service personnel and victims of the various attacks.
Among the security heads summoned are the Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
