Senators demand sack of service chiefs, ask Buhari to declare emergency on insecurity

Some senators have called for the sack of the service chiefs over rising insecurity in the country.

Speaking on the high level of insecurity in the country, the senator said the current service chiefs should be allowed to leave “having done their best”.

Elisha Abbo, senator representing Adamawa north, said the issue of funding is not the problem of the military but its leadership.

“Going by this budget document from 2012 to 2019, the army has received over N4 trillion, funding is not the problem,” Abbo said.

“The military will tell you their vehicle is spoilt and they cannot move.  Mr President should look inwards. Security chiefs have done their best, they should go.”

Binos Yaroe, senator representing Adamawa south, said it appears that the service chiefs are preoccupied with tasks other than combating insurgency.

“The chief of army staff set up a university in his hometown, the chief of air staff too. Why all these universities? There is a need to effect a change in the leadership of service chiefs,” Yaroe said.

Contributing to the debate also, Abba Moro, senator representing Benue south, said the rules are very clear on how long officials should stay in office.

Moro said there should “local solutions” to banditry and kidnapping across the country.

“The service rules are clear, 35 years of service or 60 years of age. There is no need to over flog this thing. We must find local solutions to local problems in our communities,” he said.

According to Betty Apiafi, senator representing Rivers west, the service chiefs were occupying office illegally.

“President, distinguished colleagues, security chiefs tenure have long ago expired,” Apiafi said.

“They are occupying offices illegally and they should be sacked, particularly that they have done their best and have run out of ideas.”

Thereafter, the senators set up an ad hoc committee to interface with security agencies and report back in two weeks.

The upper legislative chamber also summoned Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP).

They service chiefs are Gabriel Olonisakin, chief of defence staff; Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff; Sadique Abubakar, chief of air staff; and Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, chief of naval staff.

TheCable had reported that they are all due for retirement, having spent over 35 years in service.