The Senate on Thursday resolved to invite the National Security Adviser (NSA), Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to a meeting to discuss how to mitigate the scary security situation in the country.
The Red Chamber resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the “Urgent need for the Improvement of the coordination and synergy between Nigerian Security Forces and Agencies to help strengthen and win the fight against Insecurity in the nation.”
It was sponsored by the Senator representing Katsina Central, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua.
Presenting his Lead Debate, Senator Yar’Adua called for synergy and collaboration between the various security agencies as he submitted that the contemporary security landscape in Nigeria was posing unprecedented challenges that outstrip the protective capabilities of any single security agency.
The lawmaker maintained that all relevant security agencies and Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must work together to combat banditry, insurgencies and other security challenges.
He said, “Nigeria has various security agencies aside the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force. These include the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and other authorised Civilian Task Forces.
“Additionally, Nigeria has other key security services that oversee both internal and external threats, the Department of State Service (DSS), the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
“Nigeria faces numerous simultaneous security crises. These include Boko Haram in the North-East, the activities of bandits and kidnappers in the North-west, the activities of gunmen in the South-east and South-south, and other forms of criminality like armed robbery, herders/farmers clashes and cross-border crimes.”
Senator Yar’Adua enumerated several incidents of killings and kidnappings in the country, as he recalled the incident of 23rd October 2023, in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State when bandits attacked Anguwar Dankali community, killing five people.
He also mentioned the threats posed by the outlawed Independent People of Biafra, ( IPOB) to peace in the south east region and the insurgents and bandits in the North.
“We are aware of the kidnapping of Major General RC Duru (retired) in Owerri, Imo State on 27th September 2023 by members of IPOB, and the overall nefarious acts of the proscribed outfits, and the much-touted ‘unknown gunmen’ in the Eastern part of the country.
“Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and Operation Hakorin Damisa IV from 9 to 16 October 2023 neutralised bandit/armed robbers and arrested 59 suspects in connection with kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling, railway vandalism, gunrunning, illegal mining as well as recovered arms/ammunition and illicit drugs.
“According to reports gathered from the Punch Newspaper on the 18th of October 2023, no fewer than 50 people including a district head, women, and children, have been abducted while three others were reportedly killed in an attack by bandits in Bagega, a mining village in Zamfara State.
“Just recently on the 20th of October 2023, bandits in their numbers raided Danmusa town, the headquarters of Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing 7 people, and injuring 10 people and kidnapped a yet to be ascertained number of people. Furthermore, the bandits also attacked the people of Wurma, Tamawa and Dadawa villages in Kurfi LG killing people and rustling cattle.”
While he declared that security agencies must continue to strive to secure the country, Senator Yar’Adua said the statutory responsibility of the security agencies could only be accomplished if they collaborate under a central command structure.
The Senate subsequently urged the security agencies to enhance their inter-operational synergy and coordination for the effective and holistic tackling of the various types of insecurity plaguing the nation.
The Red Chamber also urged the agencies to develop a National Security Policy document outlining the framework for an improved and streamlined synergy and coordination between the various security agencies.
It further called on the agencies to embark on a joint training to enhance their capabilities and effectiveness in dealing with all forms of security challenges bedeviling the nation.
