The House of Representatives has summoned the service chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu to appear before the lawmakers over the rising incidents of insecurity in the country.
The lawmakers passed the resolution on Tuesday during 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 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.
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The house asked the security chiefs to appear before the plenary on Wednesday, with deliberations to be held in closed session.
Gumi lamented that insecurity in Zamfara and the wider north-west had 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.
The lawmaker 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.
The Zamfara lawmaker 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.
The motion was unanimously adopted when Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, subjected it to a voice vote.
(Ripples)
