Although the lawmakers went into the meeting with many doubts and worry, the security chiefs led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, eased their anxieties and won the lawmakers’ confidence,
Sources at the meeting have made some disclosures of what had transpired during the closed-door session with the service chiefs, heads of Security agencies, and some Ministers.
It was disclosed that the security chiefs led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, gave the Senators the achievements made so far by security agencies.
OrderPaper recalls that the Senate, on Tuesday 13 January 2024, after a 9-hour interface with Service Chiefs, heads of Security agencies, and some Ministers, passed a vote of confidence in them for stepping up the game of checkmating crime and criminality in the country.
The Senate also resolved to urge the Federal Government to make citizenship registration compulsory for all Nigerians.
READ ALSO: Insecurity: Senate passes vote of confidence on Service Chiefs after 9-hour session
A very ranking Senator who was at the closed-door session told Journalists yesterday that though the lawmakers went into the meeting with a lot of misgivings and apprehension, the security chiefs allayed their fears and earned the confidence of the lawmakers.
The Senator mentioned that Ribadu led the presentation, going over the various security challenges, how they handled the situation and the changes that had occurred thus far. However, he also mentioned how the rate of wanton violence has drastically decreased, which has reduced the number of people killed in armed group attacks.
The lawmakers were allegedly told by the NSA that Boko Haram and ISWAP were now resorting to IED planting as a signal that they were leaving their comfort zones. He attributed the victory in the war against Boko Haram to the military’s valour and the Borno State Government’s assiduous work.
Ribadu informed the lawmakers that 20 gunrunning networks had been disrupted and that over 5,000 military-grade weapons had been seized and destroyed by government agencies. He also revealed to them that occasional reports of kidnapping in most parts of the nation were indicators that economic crimes, such as armed robbery, had replaced security kidnapping as a simple way for criminals to make money.
According to Ribadu, as a result of coordinated military and non-military actions, the nation is currently experiencing a notable boost in oil output and relative peace in the South-East region, which was previously plagued by gunmen.
The Senator said, “The Chief of Air Staff also gave an excellent account of how the air component of the war complements the work of troops on the ground. He mentioned how they killed two key leaders of bandits Ali Kacalla and Yellow Janburos and how that has helped to halt interstate movement of bandits and logistics, especially around Kaduna, Niger, and Zamfara States.”
Speaking further, the Senator said the Inspector General of Police also discussed eradicating criminals from the Abuja suburbs and how his officers had stopped lone-wolf criminal activity in the nation’s capital.
While the majority of lawmakers who spoke during the session expressed satisfaction, some highlighted operational shortcomings that required addressing and encouraged the service chiefs to guarantee harmony and cooperation to achieve the greatest amount of success.
The finance minister was also given a mission by the lawmakers to prioritise funding releases to security establishments.
