The Senate has urged the Federal Government to immediately review the ECOWAS protocol of free movement as a way to checkmate the infiltration of criminal elements into the country.
The call on the Buhari-led administration was made amidst resolutions reached by the upper chamber after an exhaustive debate on a motion on the general insecurity in Nigeria.\u00a0
Sponsor of the motion, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice (APC \u2013 Ondo North), noted with sadness reports of killings, and kidnappings in Ondo State, Edo State, Oyo State, Imo State, Kaduna State, Zamfara \u00a0State, Niger State, Nasuawa State, Kebbi State and in other parts of the Country.
\u201cAware of reports of kidnappings and killings in Ibarapa axis and other parts of Oyo State consequent upon which eviction notice was given to Fulani herdmen on 16th January, 2021, sequent to which houses and cars belonging to Fulani herdsmen Were burnt in Igangan, Ibarapa North LGA of Oyo State;\u00a0
\u201cAware that in January, 2021, gunmen invaded Kaduna communities, killed the traditional head of Baranje Village, Dogara Yahaya \u00a0and another resident in Baranje village near Buruku in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.\u00a0 Similarly armed bandits killed one person after failed attempt to kidnap him at Ungwan Sada in Giwa Local Government Area,a herder was \u00a0also killed by armed bandits \u00a0along Kangimi axis on the Kaduna-Jos \u00a0Road in Igabi Local \u00a0Government \u00a0Area.
\u201cFurther aware that on Friday, 29th of January, 2021, gunmen clad in military uniform intercepted some vehicles at Idon village in kajuru Local Government Area on Kaduna-Kachia Road in Kaduna State, abducting no fewer, than 19 travellers and taking them in to the forest. Just like the dangerous Kaduna Kachina road, there are still reports of kidnappings on the Kaduna . Abuja expressway;\u00a0
\u201cNotes that in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Saturday, 24th of January, 2021, armed men attacked Rachael orphanage in Naharati, Abaji Area Council, kidnapped seven children of age range 10 to 13 years and also kidnapped a staff member of the orphanage. Like this abduction, there are also pockets of reports of abductions in Abuja;\u00a0
\u201cNotes also that in Ondo State, kidnappers often operate freely on Akure Owo road, Owo Akungba road, Akure Ilesha expressway, Ise Akoko Isua Akoko Road and other parts of the State. Recently, gunmen killed a first class traditional ruler, the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Isreal Adeusi;\u00a0
\u201cNotes further that mass killings and banditry in Kebbi State hitherto localized in four (4) Local Government Areas in Zuru Emirate have extended to Shanga (Yawuri Emirate) and Koko-Besse, Bagudo and Maiyama Local Government Areas (Gwandu Emirate);\u00a0
\u201cNotes again that in Nasarawa State, On Monday, 4th of January, 2021, gunmen killed the former education secretary of Nasarawa Local Government Area of the State Malami Salihu and Kidnapped 20 people along Mungi Sharp Conner Buga Gwari, Gadabuke area of Toto Local Government Area;\u00a0
\u201cFurther aware that in Ogun State, on Monday, lst February, 2021, suspected hoodlums set ablaze the house of Seriki Fulani in Eggua, Yewa North LGA, killing one person and scores of cows;\u00a0
\u201cNotes that in Delta State, in January, 2021, gunmen killed 3 mobile policemen, carted away AK-47 rifles and 120 rounds of ammunition in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State;\u00a0
\u201cNotes also that in Niger State, between 6th December and 12th December, 2020, gunmen invaded and launched multiple attacks in Ogu and Tegina communities in Rafi Local Government Area, 19 persons were kidnapped and a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Jeremiah Ibrahim was killed in Chukuba, Shiroro Local Government Area of the State;\u00a0
\u201cFurther notes that in Zamfara State, killings and kidnappings have continued unabated. On Friday, 8th of January, 2021, armed kidnappers invaded Kadauri village in Maru Local Government Area and kidnapped Six children from one family;\u00a0
\u201cAware that in Imo State, unrest ensued on 25th of January, 2023 at Orlu when armed members of Eastern urlty Network (ESN) clashed With security agents, this led to many killings and burning of properties.\u201d
The lawmaker further recalled that, \u201cfew days ago, armed members of members of Eastern Security Network (ESN) invaded the camp of Fulani herdsmen Isiukwuato, chasing them away and killing dozens of cows;
\u201cAware that in Edo State, kidnappers often operate freely on Benin-Auchi road as well as Benin Bypass with the recent kidnapping of Chief Dennis Abuda, a US based Nigerian who was returning to the US after the yuletide on the 31″ January, 2021 and was killed afterwards after ransom has been collected from his family;\u00a0
\u201cConcerned that security challenges have led to issuance and counter issuance of eviction notice by some ethnic entrepreneurs and groups posing as ethnic nationalists and champions;\u00a0
\u201cFurther observes that even though many perpetrators of killings, kidnappings and banditry in Nigeria are illegal immigrants, they are harboured and nourished by Nigerian informants, collaborators and arm suppliers;\u00a0
\u201cConcerned that many Nigerians have injected ethnic sentiments into insecurity issues and this is capable of plunging the Nation into ethno-religious crises of ominous proportions;\u00a0
\u201cFurther concerned that if the present state of insecurity across the Nation is not curtailed, it will lead to food insecurity and famine as many farmers can no longer access their farmlands;\u00a0
L
\u201cObserves that the Nation is entering a very dangerous phase in its governance trajectory characterized by manufactured conflicts, fueled by ethnic and religious entrepreneurs with divisive rhetorics, and amplified by irresponsible social media activists and platforms;\u00a0
\u201cNotes that it is the responsibility of leaders at all levels to address the security challenges of Nigeria; the local actors and authorities should not absolve themselves of responsibility;\u00a0
\u201cFurther notes that President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated new Service Chiefs for Senate’s consideration and hopes the new Service Chiefs will rejig and reinvigorate the security architecture for optimal efficiency and maximum effectiveness;\u00a0
\u201cCondemns extra judicial killings, banditry, robbery, kidnappings and other forms of violent behavior in Nigeria; and\u00a0
\u201cMaintains that Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) is sacrosanct, as every citizen of Nigeria has the right to live and acquire properties in any parts of the country.\u201d
Accordingly, the Senate in its bid to address the spate of insecurity in the country, adopted a resolution by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP \u2013 Enugu North), urging President Muhammadu Buhari to review the ECOWAS protocol of free movement of peoples of West Africa to checkmate the infiltration of criminal elements into Nigeria.\u00a0
The Upper Chamber also urged the President to direct the National Security Adviser and the newly nominated Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police to device a proposal to rejig the nation\u2019s security architecture and disposition of forces for more effective counter measures against the current security challenges, particularly in the rural areas.
It also called on State Governors to reinvigorate rural governance and convene state-wide inter-communal conclaves and dialogues to promote local conflict resolution and inter-ethnic harmony; and implement the National Livestock Transformation Plan to prevent farmer-herder conflicts and activate highly productive livestock sector in Nigeria.
While urging Security Agencies to actively deploy drones and helicopters to monitor forests and ungoverned areas in Nigeria, to identify illegal camps of armed bandits; the Upper Chamber called on the Federal Government to immediately embark on an operation to\ncheckmate proliferation of firearms and enforce the laws against their illegal possession by arresting, disarming and\npunishing anyone in illegal possession of arms.\u00a0
The Upper Chamber also urged the Federal Government to resuscitate and inaugurate the National Task Force Commission to combat the proliferation of light weapons, Small Arms and Ammunition; and to adequately equip the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to police and monitor our borders using technology to check illegal immigrants, and checkmate smuggling of fire arms and light weapons. \u00a0
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks, warned politicians against ethnicising the spate of insecurity in the country, warning that doing so was capable of inciting widespread bloodshed among the various ethnic groups in Nigeria.\u00a0
According to him, the issue of insecurity remains one that the National Assembly will continue to debate, as it affects the welfare of Nigerians.\u00a0
He, however, emphasized the need for more funding to the military to enable it tackle the spate of widespread insecurity in several states across the geo-political zones, as a result of the growing activities of Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers.
He said, \u201cThere\u2019s no better investment today in Nigerian by government, than making more resources available to our security agencies because security is the major thing that government can do to change the lives of the people for the better.
\u201cSo, we will continue to discuss an debate it here. This will not be the last, but the tone, the issue, the main theme should change. That maybe by the time we discuss this kind of thing here again, it should be that we have made a shift; that we have moved positively, that we are trying to only make it better.\u201d
\u201cWe should not be frustrated, we should not be discouraged. What we are talking here is being listened to, even when it appears to us that there\u2019s no sufficient implementation of what we are doing.\u00a0
\u201cBut the Executive listen to what we are talking about, and Nigerians also listen. And, of course, some Nigerians will not understand that we don\u2019t have execution power, but we can continue to oversight, continue to insist and be persistent that these are real issues that our government \u2013 including us \u2013 must address,\u201d Lawan added.\u00a0
The Senate President underscored the need for increased partnership between the Federal, States and Local Governments in the fight against insecurity.\u00a0
\u201cI also believe that there must be better and more intense partnership between the Federal Government and the States. We cannot expect the Federal Government alone to address the insecurity in the country.
\u201cI believe that at one point, the state governments are closer to the people, and in fact, even the local government.\u00a0
\u201cSome of the issues can be better settled at the local level, because the Federal Government cannot go and settle two communities fighting in a state or local government. But the Local Government Chairman, or even the Councillor could come in.\u00a0
\u201cBut what the Federal Government can do \u00a0is to arm the security agencies properly and well, so that they are able to deal with any situation that needs their attention,\u201d he said.\u00a0
Lawan further warned politicians against making unguarded comments capable of throwing the country into flames and dividing Nigerians along ethnic lines, adding that the fight against criminality remains the responsibility of security agencies to address.\u00a0
\u201cRecently, in most parts of the country, political leaders have decided to throw caution to the wind.\u00a0
\u201cPolitical leaders must be careful of what we say in a very incendiary environment, because the people listen to us as their leaders.\u00a0
\u201cSo, if we appear to be divisive, they will find justification in taking actions that all of us will regret.\u00a0
\u201cNobody is saying the situation is okay; the situation is not okay. If you have criminals occupying areas they shouldn\u2019t be, of course, the security agencies must take the necessary steps to ensure they address the situation.
\u201cBut these are criminals, and that is a specialized criminal activity. All other criminals must be flushed out, otherwise, how do we have peace?\u00a0
\u201cWe have to address criminality, we have to defeat criminality, but we also have to nip in the bud that desire and excitement sometimes of people speaking as champions of their tribes and ethnic groups.
\u201cWe are simply leaders, and the people of this country expect us to keep them United, and this is a responsibility that we will account for to the people, and to God Almighty who created us and made us leaders,\u201d the Senate President said.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Senate has urged the Federal Government to immediately review the ECOWAS protocol of free movement as a way to checkmate the infiltration of criminal elements into the country. The call on the Buhari-led administration was made amidst resolutions reached by the upper chamber after an exhaustive debate on a motion on the general insecurity […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":13828,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[203,1555,142],"class_list":["post-31217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","tag-ecowas","tag-movement","tag-senate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31217\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}