Reps summon service chiefs, security adviser over rising insecurity

The House of Representatives has summoned Nigeria’s service chiefs and Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, over the worsening wave of insecurity across the country.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Sulaiman Gumi, lawmaker representing Gummi/Bukkuyum federal constituency of Zamfara State, during plenary on Tuesday.

The decision came as insecurity continues to deepen across several parts of the country, with the abduction of dozens of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, raising fears of worsening mass kidnappings in the country.

In Benue State, dozens of residents have been killed in repeated attacks on farming communities, while Plateau State has also witnessed renewed violence that has displaced several families. In the North-West, armed bandit groups continue to launch attacks on villages and highways, with Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto among the states most affected.

Kidnapping for ransom has also remained a major security challenge across the country. Several commuters, students and residents have been abducted in recent months, despite repeated assurances by security agencies that efforts were being intensified to tackle the crisis.

Moving the motion, Gumi warned that the rising insecurity had continued to threaten lives, economic activities and food production, especially in rural communities.

Read also: Senate faces backlash over refusal to probe security spending amid rising insecurity

Lawmakers who contributed to the debate called for urgent and stronger measures to address the security situation, with some renewing calls for state police and reforms in the nation’s security architecture.

Abubakar Yelleman urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the creation of state police, saying it would help check the deteriorating security situation across the country.
“I urge the National Assembly to expedite action on state police to help checkmate the deteriorating level of security in the country,” he said.

Olumide Osoba also backed the call for decentralised policing, arguing that states could effectively manage their police formations if proper structures and safeguards were put in place.“States can effectively control their police if the right structures are put in place,” he said.

Babajimi Benson raised concerns over the nation’s cashless policy, arguing that it had complicated efforts by victims and families to secure the release of abducted persons.
“It is important to revisit the cashless policy because it is difficult to pay ransom through bank transfer,” Benson said.
Ademorin Kuye called for stricter measures against ransom payments and illicit financial flows linked to kidnapping activities.

“It is important for us to gazette the prohibition of ransom payment to kidnappers. The Central Bank of Nigeria should consider monitoring the activities of Bureau De Change to address illicit financial flows,” he said.

Abdussamad Dasuki faulted what he described as the repeated practice of referring security issues to committees without visible outcomes, insisting that key security and finance officials should appear before lawmakers in a closed-door session.

“We cannot be mandating the House Committees all the time and we are not seeing results. Let us summon the NSA, Ministers of Finance and Defence to a closed-door session. Let us know the releases to the Ministry of Defence in the past six months to know why we are not seeing results,” Dasuki said.

He also urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the nationwide recruitment of forest guards to strengthen security operations, especially in forests being used as hideouts by criminal groups.

Following deliberations, the House resolved to summon the service chiefs and Ribadu to brief lawmakers on the security situation and measures being taken to address the growing threats across the country.