Insecurity: Senate to meet Buhari, says Abuja next safe haven for Boko Haram

By SAMUEL OGIDAN, Abuja

As killings and kidnappings take another dimension in the country, the upper chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday expressed hopelessness, helplessness and melancholy over security of the country.

Senators who took turn to speak on the insecurity ravaging the nation, called on Mr. President to rise to the occasion and address the development, noting that after Niger state, Abuja is the next safe haven for Boko Haram.

Lamenting the insecurity in the country, some of the senators called on their colleagues to do the needful as esthrined in the Constitution.

Although they didnt clearly state what they want during debate on a motion on the activities of bandits and Boko Haram in Niger State, the senators said that something drastic should be done as the Senate can install and remove.

The Senate, which mandated its leadership to book an appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari, has, however, ruled out impeachment of Mr. President.

In its resolution, the Senate mandated its leadership to book an appointment with Mr. President and also to invite the Service Chiefs to have a close door with the lawmakers to brief them on what they have been doing on the security situation in the country.

The Senate also mandated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, the Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Service Chiefs to appear before it to brief them on the development in Chad.

In his contribution, the former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu said that the nation should decide whether to shut down government and deal with the issue or not, adding that “the time has come to shut down Niger state as was done during COVID-19. The Senate should also be shut down.”

He added that any government that cannot protect its people has lost its legitimacy.

On his part, Senator Francis Fadawusi said that something drastic must be done, adding that Senate must do its work.

He said: “If the government has failed to protect us, the Senate should do the needful.”

Senator Seriake Dickson, lamented the general lost of faith, noting that the situation is a faulty constitutional issue.

He said: “Our federal is only in name. Our security is structural incompetent. We are about to lose the Nigeria dream.”

Senator Matthew Urhoghide pointed out that if nothing is done in the next few days, Abuja will be the next target, urging the government to invite foreign countries like America, Britain and others to assist the nation in curbing the insecurity.

Senator Biodun Olujimi noted that lack of political will to handle insecurity is the problem, adding that the nation is almost inching towards Syria.

Gabriel Suswan on his part, lamented that the executive has shown clear incompetence in tackling insecurity, adding, “our lives as senators are in danger. Nobody is attaching value to human life again. Maybe our president doesn’t know the magnitude of this situation.”

Abdullahi Sabi Aliu said that the security situation should be addressed, noting that the next place after Niger State is the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Other lawmakers who spoke called on the presidency to urgently do something drastic, this is even as Senator Smart Adeyemi wept for the nation, adding, “our country is bleeding, we shouldn’t pretend.”

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who presided over the plenary, lamented that the nation is gradually sliding into a very difficult situation.

Kicking against closing the National Assembly, Lawan said that in a difficult situation like the one the nation is experiencing, the parliament is needed most.

He called on the executive to come with supplementary budget to address the problem of lack of military equipment and weapons to fight insecurity.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the sponsor of the motion, Senator Musa Mohammed Sani (Niger East) ruled out impeachment of Mr. President and granting of amnesty to Boko Haram.

“This is not the time to call for the impeachment of Mr. President. Amnesty shouldn’t be granted to Boko Haram,” he said.

Earlier, while leading debate on the motion, Senator Sani said that about 42 communities across the two local government areas of Shiroro and Munya Local Government have so far fallen under the Boko Haram control with about 5,000 villagers already displaced in the last three days.

“They have kidnapped many and their wives seized from them and forcefully attached to Boko Haram members. Three military camps in Allawa, Bassa and Zagzaga in the two local government areas have been sacked and some security personnel killed by the insurgents in the last one month of renewed attacks.

“I can authoritatively confirmed that the Boko Haram terrorist have mounted their flags in many of the villages they have captured such as Kaure, Alawa and Magami. Inhabitants of these war-torn parts of the State have been abandoned and left to their fate thereby compelling them to wallow in perpetual agony and abject misery.

“At this moment primary schools in Gwada, Kuta, Pandogari and Minna have hurriedly been turned to IDP camps following the sacking of nearly 5600 villagers from their ancestral homes in Shiroro, Rafi and Munya local government areas in the last few weeks by bandits who raided the towns and villages. And what this means is that if they can launched attacks without hindrance in Niger East Senatorial District then I don’t see how we can be safe Abuja anymore.

“The recent Bandits struck Kagara headquarters of Rafi Local Government, Madaka-Gari, Maikujeri, Magami, Zangouru, Bassa, Gusoro, Galadiman Kogo and Kokki villages where all attacked with casualties as more than 46 people were killed.

“And between March 2021 to date same terrorist have launched serial attacks on daily basis to adjoining villages of Alawa, Shakodna, Chiri, Kwaki, Ajatayi, Gwassa, Barden Dawaki and Gyammamiya communities in Munya and Shiroro local Government Areas of Niger State killing many innocent people which also resulted to the lost of more than 25 Gallant soldiers, mobile policemen and other security personnel, while more than 16 civilians were killed, many others unaccounted and leaving over 2300 displaced, while over 1500 are now sheltered at Primary Schools turned temporary camps at Erena, Galadima-Kogo and Zumba. The number of persons said to have been killed by bandits in Niger East are over 475 between January 2020 to date.”

The Senate, has, however, “call on the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police to immediately deploy troops to defend the unarmed populace and bring back security to the affected communities, which is the only antidote to restoring confidence in the security and safety of the affected communities.

“Urge the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police to as a matter of urgency direct for the establishment of a permanent military and police command base at the axis adjoining Shiroro and Rafi Local Government areas respectively and to redesigned the modus of operandi of the military operations within the affected areas so as to curtail the escalating insecurity.” (Daily Independent)