Senate summons service chiefs over rising insecurity

The senate has invited the service chiefs to appear before the upper legislative chamber over the rising incidents of insecurity in the country.

The red chamber passed the resolution on Tuesday after a motion sponsored by Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate majority leader and 108 senators.

The service chiefs are Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff; Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff; Emmanuel Ogalla, chief of naval staff; and Hassan Abubakar, chief of air staff.

Over the past few weeks, there have been cases of killing and abductions in many parts of the country, including the federal capital territory (FCT) – where six sisters and their father were kidnapped from their home in the Bwari area council.

While moving the motion, the senate leader reeled out different cases of insecurity across the country.

“Senate equally notes the various kidnappings in the federal capital territory where victims have been killed after collecting ransom,” Bamidele said.

“Senate is also aware of several cases of kidnappings all over the country where huge ransom had been paid and several of the victims still got killed.

“Senate is also aware that the recent killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State and the abduction of primary school pupils in Ekiti had further aggravated the level of insecurity in the country.

“Senate notes the unfortunate bomb explosion at Bodija in Ibadan Oyo State where no less than five lives were lost and several residential houses, schools, hotels, and religious centres were destroyed.

“The senate equally notes the killing of several residents of Mangu, Bokkos, and Barkin Ladi communities in Plateau state.”

The motion was adopted after it was put to vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Commenting on the motion, Akpabio said after the session, the outcome would be discussed with President Bola Tinubu.

“We have a responsibility to collaborate with the executive and contribute our ideas to ensure that our constituents and ourselves, including our children, can sleep with their two eyes closed,” he said.

“Security is everybody’s business, and without security, we can not make progress.”

The senate president added that the country would not prosper if there were security issues.