UPDATED: Senate invites IGP over rising insecurity in the country

The Senate has invited the acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammad Adamu to appear before it over the rising insecurity in parts of the country.

The upper legislative chamber believed that Adamu’s explanation would help in understanding the problem and proffering solutions.

It also urged the government to set up inter-agency task force to tackle cases of banditry and kidnapping in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Niger States as well as intensify the search for the perpetrators and bring them to book.

Equally, it tasked security agencies to immediately deploy the use of drones and interceptors in tackling kidnappers asking for ransom and give special security cover to foreign workers and tourists.

This was sequel to a motion moved by Shehu Sani (PRP, Kaduna) and co-sponsored by 108 other senators at Thursday plenary.

In their separate contributions, lawmakers condemned the gruesome killing of 29-year-old British humanitarian worker, Faye Mooney, a Nigerian, Matthew Oguche and abduction of three others on a holiday resort in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Although, the IGP is expected to appear next week, no specific date has been fixed.

In his lead debate, Sani expressed concern that security agencies are yet to tackle to nip the challenge in the bud.

He stressed the need for telecommunication companies to provide security agencies with information in areas where there are kidnappings, even as he urged the Senate to send a delegation to the British High Commission.

The lawmaker said despite the repeated attacks, no one has been brought to book by the government, a development, he observed has emboldened the bandits to carry out more heinous crimes.

He said: “In recent times, the attacks on individuals, houses and villages have become one too many and there is no  single person that has been brought to book as a result of  the wanton killings  and the so much emphasised efforts at combating the crime is not yielding fruitful results;

“We are worried that due to the fact that perpetrators of these heinous activities tend to be gaining more courage to perpetuate their dastardly acts without fear of confrontation due to their acclaimed superior fire power.

“The unfortunate event of 19th April, 2019 where armed gun men raided a resort called Kajuru Resort in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State, and a Briton, Ms. Faye Mooney and a Nigerian, Mr. Mathew Oguche were killed and three others abducted has put more fears into Nigerians”.

On his part, Kabiru Marafa, (APC, Zamfara) disclosed that businesses and other sources of livelihood including farming, have collapsed in northern states.

He warned that there may be no Zamfara State in the next two years if the insecurity in the region persists, adding that the only way out is to meaningfully engage youths who he observed are predominantly involved in banditry.

“There might be no Zamfara State in the next two years if something is not done about the insecurity in the state. I saw a video from my state where children of about 11 years are wielding AK47. This is the reality on ground in my state.

“In Zamfara State, there are over 3,000 kidnapped victims in the dens of bandits. This thing is not reducing. It has become a business. There is technically no business in the north, except kidnapping.

“People have abandoned their farms in the north. There are no more peasant farmers in the north. They are being kidnapped by these bandits. This is a serious problem.

“I disagree with my colleague from Katsina. All businesses in the north are dead. The government must employ people or they will join these bandits. The reason behind this problem is corruption.

“We can’t employ enough security people to man every community in the country. Where are we going to? With due respect to my colleagues, with the kind of irresponsible leadership we have seen in states, we cannot solve this problem,” he said.

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, in his brief remarks said, kidnapping of foreigners has jacked up the cost of constructing roads in the country.

According to him, foreign construction companies now factor in money for payment of ransoms into the cost when negotiating with government.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki who presided the session, said a solution must be found on ways out of the repeated attacks.

Saraki said: “When we talk about the way forward, we must be true to ourselves. In discussing this issue, we must be frontal. We need to tell ourselves where this started from. We must not see it from the eyes of political parties or anything sentimental.

“There was a time when we couldn’t even talk to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for over a year. He refused to honour our invitation. We need to be serious whether we want to find a solution or just play to the gallery.

“I am aware that people have now deserted Kaduna expressway because of insecurity. In the past, kidnapping was done in the city. Today, it is different. Nowhere is safe anymore. We need to tell ourselves the truth and find a way out of this mess. We must find a solution.”