THE house of representatives has summoned the service chiefs and Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), to appear before the parliament over the rising incidents of insecurity across the country.
News Point Nigeria reports that the green chamber passed the resolution during Tuesday’s plenary following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Sulaiman Gumi, lawmaker representing Gummi/Bukkuyum federal constituency in Zamfara state.
The service chiefs are Olufemi Oluyede, chief of defence staff; Waidi Shaibu, chief of army staff; Idi Abbas, chief of naval staff; and Sunday Aneke, chief of air staff.
The legislators also summoned Adeola Ajayi, the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS); Taiwo Oyedele, the minister of finance; and Christopher Musa, the minister of defence.
Oyedele is expected to brief the lawmakers on the funds released for the procurement of military equipment needed to tackle the country’s security challenges.
The house asked the security chiefs to appear before the plenary on Wednesday, with deliberations to be held in closed session.
Gumi said insecurity in Zamfara and the wider north-west has escalated into a complex humanitarian crisis driven by armed banditry, kidnappings and the infiltration of transnational jihadist groups.
He noted that between June 1 and 6, bandits riding on motorcycles attacked communities in Gummi/Bukkuyum federal constituency, killing 95 people.
He also cited the abduction of seven students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, from their off-campus hostel on the night of June 2 and the early hours of June 3.
According to him, two senior lecturers of the institution had earlier been kidnapped and remained in captivity for more than two months despite the payment of ransom.
Gumi said the wave of attacks had spread across other north-west states, including Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Jigawa.
Gumi warned that unchecked bandit movements across states undermine national security and could devastate lives and the socio-economic fortunes of the entire north-west if urgent measures are not taken.
Abubakar Yelleman, chairman of the house committee on police, called on the parliament to expedite action on the establishment of state police to help tackle the worsening security situation in the country.
Olumide Osoba, a lawmaker representing Abeokuta north/Obafemi Owode/Odeda federal constituency in Ogun, argued that states can effectively manage their own police formations if appropriate structures are put in place.
Babajimi Benson, chair of the defence committee, said the cashless policy should be reviewed, noting that the traceability of bank transfers makes it difficult for kidnappers to receive ransom payments.
The motion was unanimously adopted when Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, subjected it to a voice vote.
Following that, the house asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately deploy forest guards nationwide to replicate the intervention in Oyo state after the abduction of Ogbomoso schoolchildren and tutors
The victims were kidnapped on May 15 after gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located in Oriire LGA.