The House of Representatives, on resumption from the 10 weeks annual recess, on Wednesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to give effect to subsisting House resolutions bothering on the removal of the Service Chiefs and appoint new ones in view of the rising cases of insecurity in the country.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion co-sponsored by Hon. Shehu Barwa Beji and Hon. Saidu Umar Doka, just as the lawmakers frowned at the rate of killings of innocent Nigerians across the nation.
In his lead debate, Hon. Beji who expressed grave concern over increasing attacks in the area which led to the loss of lives and properties on a daily basis underscored the need for urgent reforms of the operational structure of the Nigerian Military in the area.
The House also called for the establishment of a permanent military base in Shiroro/Rafi/Munya Federal Constituency of Niger State to curb the rising cases of banditry, killing and kidnapping in the area.
The lawmakers maintained that “the unjustifiable retention of the service Chiefs may be the cause of the lingering problem as their defensive strategies seem to be obsolete and must have outgrown further learning.”
He said: “barely a few days ago, the nation lost one of her Military Commanders and three other officers of the Nigerian Army at the battlefield,” adding that Soldiers of the Nigerian Army were not happy that while the military honoured the officer killed, their colleagues who suffered the same fate were left out.
He added that such utter disregard and disrespectful gesture meted out on bereaved families of junior fallen heroes is demoralizing the gallantry spirit of our soldiers at battlefields.
The lawmaker said despite efforts to curb banditry activities in Niger State, the situation had continued to escalate to the extent that our farmers have completely abandoned their farm which is the mainstay of their economy.
He maintained that: “even the Federal Capital Territory where National and International Businesses are being conducted is no longer safe as there have been reported cases of kidnappings/banditry within the
FCT”. service chiefs
According to him, the rate of killings across the nation is now spilling into the Federal Capital Territory leading to global
embarrassment depicting how less prepared again in terms of security.
He said that in view of the recurrent attacks, there have been general outcries for the establishment of Military Bases in the affected axis, while the President only ordered for deployment of military men to cover those communities which have not changed anything.
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He argued that the approach to the situation at hand is no longer effective as the attacks is now more persistent than ever, adding that with the dwindling oil prices as well as the closure of the borders, the agrarian economy ought to be the nation’s major fall back yet, our villages are no longer safe for farming.
He said the deficit in farming activities resulting from incessant attacks in those areas will further aggravate poverty and hunger in the country, thereby breeding more crime within the clans.
Hon. Beji said that from the sophistication of the banditry attacks, anything short of establishing military bases in the affected areas is a futile exercise because, when soldiers are around, the bandits go into hiding but the moment soldiers leave, they launch attacks again, hence the need for permanent military structures in the vulnerable areas.
To this end, the House urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently send relief materials to the victims of the banditry attacks in the area.
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