Revealed: Insecurity: What Senate President Lawan Told Service Chiefs

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has expressed confidence in the ability of the nation’s service chiefs to win the war against insurgency and insecurity in Nigeria.

Lawan made the submission on Thursday while receiving the security chiefs into the Senate Chamber for a discussion with the lawmakers on the security situation in the country.

He noted that the security chiefs are doing their best with the resources available to them but the Senators would continue to provide legislative support for their efforts at curbing insecurity.

As earlier reported, the security chiefs in attendance are General Lucky Eluoye Onyenucheya Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff), Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru ( Chief of Army Staff); Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff); and Vice Marshal Isiaka O. Amao (Chief of Air Staff).

Also in the meeting are the Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno, Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Rtd), the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Before the meeting went into a closed-door session, Lawan assured the security chiefs that the lawmakers will provide the necessary support to overcome the various security challenges.

In his words, the Senate President said: “You recall our resolution to invite them for briefing on security situation in our dear country.

“On behalf of all of us Senators, I want to welcome this team and let me quickly assure all of you that indeed this Senate or the entire National Assembly is and will remain a partner in progress with you.

“On behalf of my colleagues, I want to commend our armed forces and other security agencies for fighting the myriad of security challenges across the country.

“In the process, some have given up their lives.

“We appreciate what you are doing because we know that you are doing your best with what you have at hand.

“I want to assure you and everyone that the challenges we face are taken seriously and extremely by the Parliament.

“Hardly a day passes without this Senate discussing one security incident or the other. And it has been so for many years, not only this session.

“Once again, I welcome you and trust us with what you think will help us as a parliament to help the cause of Armed forces and other security agencies to perform better because you haven’t achieved the optimum and I can attribute that to inadequate resources.

“We pray that at the end of this interaction, we will see better ways and means of providing the necessary provision of resources to enable our armed forces continue with national case to provide national security.

“We need to protect the lives and property of citizens to stabilise our environment for economy to receive better investments for this country; to be a hub for investments that will provide employment opportunities to our teeming youths. Thank you very much.”

Meanwhile, armed men on Wednesday killed two police inspectors and released all detainees during an attack on Obosi police station in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The police stated was attacked barely 24 hours after the new Commissioner of Police, Christopher Adetokumbo Owolabi, assumed office.

A source at the affected police station noted that the gunmen invaded the station on Wednesday night, killing two inspectors while all the detainees in the cell were released before razing down the police station.

He simply identified the deceased officers as Inspectors James and Awalu.