Nigerian Army overstretched by involvement in internal security – Senate

The Senate has expressed concerns that the Nigerian Army is being overstretched by involving in internal security of the country.

This as the army said only two persons were abducted on Sunday along Kaduna-Abuja road and not 15.

Speaking during an oversight to various Army formations in Kaduna State, the Chairman Senate committee on Army, Ali Ndume, said the Army was currently operating in at least 33, out of 36 States of the Federation.

He spoke while meeting with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Usman Mohammed.

Ndume who was accompanied by four other senators, lamented that the army was being pressured beyond its constitutional role of protecting territorial integrity.

He said, “We are delighted to be here. We insisted on this oversight visit for some reasons. The Army is facing its own challenges. By our constitution, the Army isn’t supposed to be involved in civil security.

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“But we have security challenges across every part of the country. The Army had to be drafted to provide internal security. Right now, the Army provides internal security in about 33 States in the country. We can’t sit in Abuja and talk.

“We need to see for ourselves. We are hoping that the Army will get back to its feet. As a country, we are known to have a formidable Army. But these days, we are worried.”

Speaking on recent kidnappings along Kaduna-Abuja road, Ndume urged the Army to go after bandits and kidnappers in their various hideouts.

“In the last few months, we have had peace along the Kaduna-Abuja road. But on Sunday, what happened is worrisome. Along the Birni Gwari, the security situation is also alarming. Unfortunately, the Army doesn’t have the number needed to provide security,” he said.

The GOC told the senators that only two persons were killed along Kaduna-Abuja road on Sunday and not 15.

He explained that the two victims were a driver and a woman.

He also revealed that nine persons who were kidnapped by the bandits were freed on Sunday by soldiers, who immediately swung into action as soon as the attack happened.

He said they were going after bandits during the Christmas period, adding that more camps belonging to bandits will be located and destroyed in the coming days.

He said, “Right now, we have three operations going. There is one along the Kaduna-Abuja road. We are going after bandits during this Christmas period. We will flush them out. We have been seeing their recent hand along that road. We will keep doing our best.

“We always go after the bandits in their camps. We have dislodged them from their camps. On Sunday, only two persons were killed. Nine persons were kidnapped. We went after them and the kidnappers left their victims and ran away.

“It is false to say that 15 people were killed. That’s not true. We will keep dislodging them. We will redouble our efforts and ensure that they don’t have their way.”

A member of the Senate committee, who is a retired Army Colonel, Bulus Amos, said many villagers and peasants in areas where bandits were operating, often served as informants.

He urged the division to be more tactical in its operations.

“Most people who are farmers, bike riders and villagers are informants. These bandits have informants everywhere. Soldiers need to go after them. If they meet them face to face, soldiers will finish them.

“Soldiers need to disguise and find a way to get the people to cooperate with them. These bandits live with us. They’re part of us and they live in communities. We need to do more,” he said.