Reps, Service Chiefs meet secretly over relocation threat against Igbo, kidnapping

Members of the House of Representatives and Service Chiefs on Tuesday met behind closed doors to deliberate and find lasting solution to the rising spate of insecurity across the country.

The lawmakers during the meeting which lasted for over four hours with Abdulrahman Danbazzuau, Minister of Interior, Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusuf Buratai and Inspector General of Police requested action-plans mapped out by various security agencies to avert crisis on the recent relocation threat issued by the Northern Youth groups against Igbo indigents living in the Northern part of the country.

Other issues discussed include: inter-agenxy rivalry and its impact on the prosecution of anti-terrorism war, need for adequate funding of security sector, among others.

They also frowned at the unabated cases of kidnapping in various states across the federation including Lagos, Kogi, Kaduna, South East region, among others.

Ado Doguwa, Majority Whip who spoke on the development, confirmed that issues bothering on the relocation threat, kidnapping and unabated cases of herdsmen attack on farmers and host communities were deliberated on during the meeting.

Also speaking, Aminu Jaji, chairman, House Committee on Public Safety and Intelligence affirmed that there were certain grey areas which were deliberated upon by the parties.

In his response to inquiry by Legislative Correspondents, Abdulrahman Danbazzuau, Minister of Interior disclosed that issues bothering on the security of lives and properties of Nigerians were discussed during the closed door session.

He however declined to respond to further questions on the probable solution to the lingering insecurity across the country.

When contacted, Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusuf Buratai, also declined response to inquiry on the outcome of the meeting.

The interactive session with the Minister of Defence, Minister of Interior, Service Chiefs, Inspector General of the Police, Director General of Department of State Service (DSS) and Commandant-General of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was sequel to the series of resolutions passed on motions passed on the floor of the House last week.

In the bid to avert unrest across the country, the House urged the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Force Staff and Inspector General of Police to form a joint task force to comb the affected areas with the view to apprehend and ensure prosecution of those criminals.

KEHINDE AKINTOLA