Insecurity: Senators Demand Sack Of Service Chiefs, Security Agencies Heads

Federal lawmakers in the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, demanded for the immediate dismissal and replacement of the nation’s service chiefs and heads of other security agencies over lingering insecurity in the land.

The Senators, who called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of necessity, accept an offer of assistance made to him by the British Prime Minister, Theresa May on Monday, lamented what they called, “a lack of decisive action on the part of the executive to tackle the issue of herdsmen killings in parts of the country”.

Debating a motion under matters of urgent public importance, sponsored by Senator Suleiman Adokwe (PDP, Nasarawa State) on the renewed killings by herdsmen and criminal militia groups, the lawmakers noted that government’s inability to tackle unending killings in the land has endangered the nation’s democracy, as Nigerians have become increasingly disappointed and frustrated over failure of government to protect them.

The lawmakers, in venting their frustration and anger, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, seek international help in curbing growing insecurity in Nigeria.

Making a particular appeal to the President was the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who asked the President to accept British Prime Minister, Theresa May’s offer of assistance in curbing incessant killings in Nigeria.

He said: “We should not be ashamed to ask for help. The President met with the UK Prime Minister and she was of the opinion that Britain would help us security wise”.

Contributing to debate on the matter, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Lagos), argued that there was need to inject fresh ideas into how the security problems in the country can be remedied.

He stressed that there is nowhere that is safe in Nigeria with the daily killings that the nation is regaled with.

“The security situation has not improved and what the president need at this time is fresh ideas on how to tackle numerous security challenges confronting the nation,” Adeola said.

Adeola further pointed out that for the President to address the security challenges, he must remove the incumbent service chiefs to give room for those with fresh ideas, adding that “the nation should do away with unproductive tenure elongation in areas where fresh ideas are needed”.

“We know the way the military organisations operates. Those with fresh ideas dare not come out against their superiors or else they risk premature retirement from service. So the current service chiefs should go to allow officers with fresh ideas address our alarming security issues,” he added.

Providing what seemed like a professional angle to the debate, Senator Jeremiah Useni (PDP, Plateau State), identified the constant clashes among security agencies as part of the security problems.

Useni, a retired Lieutenant General of the Nigerian Army, was of the opinion that heads of such agencies be removed to pave way for more harmonious relationship among security agencies.

However, Adokwe had while presenting his motion earlier said: “Throughout the weekend and up to the moment that I am speaking, herdsmen have unleashed terror and mayhem on the people of my senatorial district, leaving many dead bodies, numerous wounded persons and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons. The victims are largely the Tiv speaking ethnic nationalities with a reported dead toll of 32 persons and we are still counting.

“The real tragedy is not in the well coordinated and simultaneous carnage across Awe, Obi, Keana and Doma local government areas of Southern senatorial district but the tragedy lies from the fact that for four days running, this mayhem continued unhindered, unchecked, unstopped by any arm of the law and security enforcement agencies”, he told bewildered colleagues.

The visibly shaken lawmaker lamented that “right under the noses of the armed forces and the police, this killing is sustained unabated by sheer negligence or refusal

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