Senate summons Service Chiefs over insecurity

The Senate has invited Service Chiefs for an interaction over increasing security challenge in the country.

This followed the adoption of a motion by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, at plenary after a closed-door session in Abuja on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

Bamidele said the motion titled, “Motion on Spate of Insecurity in Nigeria”, was sponsored by the entire 109 senators.

The lawmaker noted with sadness, the rising spate of killings, kidnappings, banditry, and other criminal activities in the country.

He said: “Senate further notes the recent killings in Agata Local Government Area of Benue State, which led to loss of lives including security personnel and wanting destruction of property.

“As well as the brutal killings of eleven residents of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

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“Senate equally notes the various kidnappings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where victims have been killed after collecting ransom.”

Bamidele further lamented the several cases of kidnappings in the country where huge ransom had been paid and several of the victims still got killed.

The senator said: “The recent killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State and the abduction of primary school pupils in Ekiti had further aggravated the level of insecurity in the country.

“There was also the unfortunate bomb explosion at Bodija in Ibadan, Oyo State, where no less than five lives were lost and several residential houses, schools, hotels, and religious centres were destroyed.

“The Senate equally notes the killing of several residents of Mangu, Bokkos, and Barkin Ladi communities in Plateau State.”

In his remarks, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the Senate would after the meeting with the security chiefs, discuss the outcome with President Bola Tinubu.

Akpabio said: “After the interactive session with the security chiefs, which we agreed that it should be next week, we would also fix a time to discuss the outcome with Mr President.

“We have a responsibility to collaborate with the executive and contribute our ideas to ensure that our constituents and ourselves, including our children can sleep with their two eyes closed.

“Security is everybody’s business and without security, we cannot have progress.”

Meanwhile, the Senate has adjourned till February 6 to allow the senators participate in the forthcoming bye-elections in the country.

The Star