House Directs NSA to Galvanise Intelligence Network to Restore Security Across Nigeria

•SGF: Tinubu has deployed security to Benue 

•IG vows to rescue abducted students

Kingsley Nwezeh, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, John Shiklam in Kaduna, George Okoh in Makurdi and Ugo Aliogo in Lagos

The House of Representatives has directed the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), to coordinate and galvanise all security and intelligence networks to develop and execute proactive master plan that would restore securityacross the nation.

This was as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has hinted thatPresident Bola Tinubu had deployed enough security personnel to Benue State to put an end to the killings in the state.

Also, following the abduction of  students in Kaduna State, the Inspector-General of Police,  Kayode Egbetokun, yesterday, vowed to rescue the victims and subsequentlyordered the deployment of a mobile police unit to Kuriga, the community, where the abduction took place.

At the same time, a group, Plan International, has expressed outrage over the mass abduction of school children in northwest Nigeria, even as dare-devil bandits invadedanother Kaduna community,  Buda Hausa, in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state, abducting 61 people.

However, the resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Tuesday by  Hon. Ahmed Munir.

Moving the motion, the lawmaker recalled that on March 7th 2024, gunmen stormed Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School and Government Secondary School in Kuriga Community where over 200 students and teachers have been forcibly abducted and moved to the forest unchallenged.

He further recalled that two months ago, the menace occurred in the same community, where a school principal, Malam Abu Sufyan, was killed days earlier and his wife and baby abducted. 

The lawmaker said the wife and baby were later rescued in a successful joint security operation on 3rd February 2024.

Munir noted that on Friday 8th March 2024, gunmen attacked worshippers in a mosque at Angwar Makera, Kwasakwasa Community in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, with two persons declared dead.

He lamented that the worrisome trend of violence was slipping into other parts of the state affecting persons of all religious and ethnic backgrounds.

The lawmaker expressed concern that despite the N3.25 trillion allocated to the defence and security sector on drones and other military equipment that could track, locate and rescue victims, represented 11.8 percent of the national budget in 2024, yet, there has been no respite as bulk of the actions by security personnel are reactionary rather than proactive.

As a result, the House “Mandated ONSA to coordinate and galvanise all security and intelligence networks to develop and execute a proactive master plan to restore security with defined plans on coordinating with neighbouring countries.”

It stated that the plan must include “boots on ground land and aerial sweep of locations that include but not limited to Kuyambana Forest in Zamfara, Kamuka Forest in Kaduna, Falgore Forest in Kano, Borgu and Zugurma Forests in Niger State.

“Urges the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), to revisit and optimise fully the Acts passed for the National Counter Terrorism Centre as well as The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons  and ensure that they fully serve the purpose of their establishment.

“Urges the federal government to absolve the Military and Security establishment from the restrictive envelope budget system, allowing them to develop a robust budget that is based on need assessments that reflects security peculiarities and reality on ground.”

The House also mandated the Committee on Finance to investigate the utilisation and effectiveness of the Safe School Initiative Fund and report back to the House within four weeks.

It further directed the Joint Military Security Task Force stationed in Benue State to initiate full and coordinated security operations, with aerial surveillance and other necessary combat mission plans to flush out the bandits around Mbaikyor and other banditry camps in Benue State.

SGF: Tinubu Has Deployed Security to Benue

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)Senator George Akume, has said President Bola Tinubu had deployed enough security personnel to Benue to put an end to killings in the state.

He, however, advised Governor Hyacinth Alia to make use of the security architecture available to him to end insecurity in the state.

The SGF said this at the burial of former All Progressives Congress (APC) Woman Leader, late Mrs. Msoo Tar in Ushongo Local Government Area of the state.

Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Pius Akutah, the SGF said, “President Tinubu has great love for Benue State and that is why he is drawing Benue people closer to power.”

He noted that the distribution of fertilizers to Benue farmers during the last farming season was another show of love and concern by President Tinubu for Benue people.

The SGF reassured Benue youths and women of hisreadiness to carry them along, saying he has made the upliftment of youths and women in the society his priority “because they are the people who have been the pillar behind his political success since 1999.”

IG Vows to Rescue Kidnapped Students

Following the abduction of  students in Kaduna, the Inspector-General of Police,  Kayode Egbetokun, yesterday, vowed to rescue the victims and immediately ordered the deployment of a mobile police unit to Kuriga, the community where the abduction took place.

The IG was accompanied during the visit by the DIG in charge of the Force Intelligence Department, Habu Sani, DIG Department of Operations, Ede Ayuba Ekpeji, AIG Police Mobile Force, Yekini Adio Ayoku, and other senior officers.

He said Nigeria Police would “ensure the safe rescue of all the abducted students, assuring them that both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches were being vigorously pursued to secure the release of the students and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

A statement by the Force Headquarters said the IG  “announced the immediate deployment of a full armed and ready unit of mobile policemen to the Kuriga Community to enhance security in the affected area and facilitate swift action towards the rescue operation.”

During his visit, the IG met with the Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and extended heartfelt sympathies to the people of the state particularly the Kuriga community affected by the incident.

In his response,  Sani, reaffirmed the government’s readiness to support the police in their rescue efforts.

He assured of continuous assistance and provision of support to the deployed officers. Additionally, the governor cautioned against sensational reportage by the media, urging responsible journalism during this challenging period.

Group Outraged over Kidnap of Pupils

A group, Plan International, has expressed outrage over the mass abduction of school children in northwest Nigeria.

In a statement signed by the organisation’s Country Director, Charles Usie, “The news of mass kidnapping of school children in Kaduna and Sokoto states is a sad reminder of the precarious situation of education in Nigeria and that of children and girls.

“We condemn it in totality. Taking innocent school children hostage is most regrettable and must never be normalised, as it symbolises attack on education and our collective future as a society.

“All children have an inalienable right to education, and schools must never be targets in armed conflict. Attacks on schools are an attack on the rights of the learners to education and a life of dignity.”

Usie called on security forces to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of the students and teachers, highlighting the particular protection and exploitation dangers faced by the abducted girls.

He called on Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show the commitment of the Nigeria government to ensuring the safety and security of schools, learning centres, and learners by mandating the heads of relevant security agencies to take responsibility for the safe release of abducted children and their teachers.

Bandits Attack Kaduna Community, Abduct 61

Some dare-devil bandits have reportedly invaded Buda Hausa community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting 61 people.

A member of the State House of Assembly representing Kajuru constituency, Hon. Usman Danlami Stingo, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview yesterday evening.

Stingo said the bandits invaded the community in the early hours of yesterday, unleashing terror on the community, adding that those abducted included 32 females and 29 males.

According to the lawmaker, “The bandits attacked the community around 12 midnight to 1:00am on Tuesday when residents of the community were sleeping. I raised a motion on the issue today on the floor of  the State House of Assembly.”