Insecurity: Service chiefs honour senate’s invitation — but meeting postponed

The nation’s security chiefs were at the senate to discuss the spate of insecurity across the country.

However, the meeting was postponed because some heads of intelligence agencies did not show up.

The security chiefs present were Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff; Emmanuel Ogalla, chief of naval staff; and Hassan Abubakar, chief of air staff.

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), and Yusuf Bichi, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), were also present.

However, the meeting was postponed to February 13.

Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, said the likes of Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff, needed to be present for the meeting to hold.

“We also heard about the infiltration of the federal capital territory (FCT) in places like Kubwa and Bwari. We have heard reports that they have cells where they are congregating. We have heard reports of your efforts and we resolved to invite you to brief us on this resurgence,” Akpabio said.

“While we welcome you, we are not passing the buck, we are not blaming you. But you are not complete.

“We also like to have the national security adviser (NSA), chief of defence staff, minister of state for defence, and director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the minister of interior.

“We want you to know that we represent the Nigerian people and we will only do their will. The senate is of the view that the FCT is under threat.”

Thereafter, Akpabio directed the clerk of the senate to inform other heads of security agencies to be present next week.

Over the past few weeks, there has been an uptick in killings and abductions for ransom in many parts of the country, including the FCT.