…adjourns plenary for election campaigns
The Nigerian Senate has again invited all Security Chiefs of the country to discuss and proffer solutions to the rising spate of insecurity throughout the country next week.
Insecurity was a major issue discussed at the resumed plenary of the Senate on Tuesday. Lawmakers expressed concern over the growing spate of killings, kidnappings and ransom payments, banditry, and all other forms of criminality throughout the country including the nation’s capital.
Read also: Growing helplessness of Nigerians over insecurity
The Senate decried cases of kidnapping within the Federal Capital Territory, where victims were killed even after ransom was paid, as well as the killings of two traditional leaders and the kidnapping of school pupils in Ekiti state.
Lawmakers held a minute silence for all citizens who have been killed in the recent attacks.
The Upper Chamber had invited the Service Cheifs in December 2023, following the brutal attack on several communities in Plateau that left hundreds of people dead.
The invited security Chiefs, including Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff; Hassan Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff; Yusuf Bichi; Director-General of the Department of State Services; Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police, Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, among others.
The invitation Tuesday was a sequel to a motion on the ‘Spate of Insecurity in Nigeria’, sponsored by Bamidele Opeyemi, the Senate leader, on behalf of the Senate. The motion was birthed after the Senate’s closed-door meeting.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio decried that kidnapping has been turned into lucrative merchandise, stressing that the planned meeting with the security chiefs is crucial to mapping out workable solutions.
“We should meet next week, so we can discuss and see how we can tackle this insecurity situation”, Akpabio said.
He said the outcome of the meeting would be tabled before President Bola Tinubu for further action.
Read also: Growing helplessness of Nigerians over insecurity
Meanwhile, both Chambers of the National Assembly have adjourned plenary till Tuesday, February 6 to enable lawmakers to partake in the campaigns for upcoming bye-elections.
This is the first plenary of the Senate in 2024, after embarking on a break on December 31, 2024.
“Given the Elections in about 36 Constituencies coming up on Saturday, goth chambers have agreed that we have less than 48 hours to partake in the campaign which will close on Thursday by midnight, and therefore this Senate stands adjourned to the 6th day of February 2024”, Akpabio said.
