The wanton killings, banditry, kidnappings and brigandage happening across the country was the focus of the Nigeria Senate on Tuesday as the upper chamber called on President Buhari to seek foreign help.
The lawmakers described insecurity in the country as not only terrible, but also shameful.
The debate followed the tabling of a motion by Senator Sani Musa (All Progressives Congress, Niger East) on the activities of Boko Haram in Niger State.
Senator Musa reiterated what the governor of his state had said during an interview that many communities in the state were under the control of Boko Haram.
He said, “About 42 communities across the two local government areas of Shiroro and Munya 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.”
Contributing to the motion, Bima Enagi (APC, Niger North), said Nigerians could not continue to bear the pain of women being raped and forcibly married to Boko Haram terrorists.
Enagi said, “We cannot continue to allow Boko Haram to hoist flags in Nigerian territories. What is our army doing? What are all security agencies doing?
“It has become so shameful that a great country like Nigeria will be in this type of terrible situation. It seems the Federal Government is handling this insecurity with kid gloves. People are dying every day and nothing is being done. No serious, concrete situation on ground to confront these people (insurgents and bandits). I don’t know what else this Senate can do other than appeal to the government.”
In his own contribution, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said he was not convinced that the President was aware of the security situation in Nigeria.
He suggested that the Senate should, “mandate the leadership of the National Assembly to book an appointment with the Commander-In-Chief on behalf of the 109 senators…because I’m not convinced that Mr President is aware of everything that’s happening. And if you (Lawan) are meeting with the Commander-in-Chief, all the service chiefs and all the relevant people will be there.”
Contributing, Ike Ekweremadu, representing Enugu West, “Any government that cannot protect its citizens has lost legitimacy. We should not be ashamed to seek support. Time has come for Niger State to shut down and protect its citizens. It’s time to shut down this Senate and go into an executive session to find a solution to this problem.”
Similarly, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, (Edo South), also called on the Federal Government to seek external help in addressing the country’s security challenges.
Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) broke down in tears as he made his own contribution, drawing snide remarks from fellow senator, Oluremi Tinubu, who sat close to him. She asked him if he was a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” apparently because she thought he was joining PDP to tongue-lash an APC administration.
Adeyemi said the country was facing the worst instability since the civil war. He said, “This is the worst instability we are facing. In fact, this is worse than the civil war,” he said.
Tinubu, who couldn’t hide her anger, asked, “Are you in the PDP? Are you a wolf in sheep’s clothing?”
Adeyemi, however, ignored her and said amidst tears that, “We cannot pretend that we are capable of handling the situation in our hands.
“We shouldn’t pretend that we (don’t) need foreign support now. Billions of naira have been voted for security services and nothing is coming out.
“I’m a party man and I’m supporting the APC, but it has got to a point that as supporters we cannot keep quiet.”
On his part, Senator Francis Fadahunsi said that something drastic must be done, adding that Senate must do its work.
Senator Seriake Dickson on his part stated, “Our federalism is only in name. Our security is structurally incompetent. We are about to lose the Nigerian dream.”
Biodun Olujimi said bloodletting in the country had got out of hand. “There is lack of political will to handle insecurity. None of us here can say we know the process that this government is taking to handle insecurity. There is also lack of leadership. New service chiefs have come. Have we told them what to do and given them a timeline?” she asked.
Gabriel Suswan lamented that the executive had shown clear incompetence in tackling insecurity.
He said “Our lives as senators are in danger. Nobody is attaching any value to human life again. Maybe our President doesn’t know the magnitude of this situation.”
Senator Sabi Abdullahi said that the security situation should be addressed, noting that the next place after Niger State would be Abuja.
After the debate, the Senate in its resolutions directed its leadership to hold an urgent meeting with the President.
The red chamber also agreed to summon the service chiefs and other heads of security agencies.
It also agreed to invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, and the Director of National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
It also urged the Federal Government to recruit more soldiers and other security personnel to boost the war against terrorism and forms of insecurity.
Also on Tuesday, the House of Representatives held a three-hour executive (closed-door) session to discuss the rising spate of insecurity across Nigeria.
It called on the President to declare a state of emergency on security.
The lawmakers unanimously adopted 11 resolutions, which the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, read to journalists after the meeting.
The House stated, “Considering the security situation, the President should immediately declare a state of emergency on security so as to fast track all measures to ensure the restoration of peace in the country.”
