*Flush Out Bandits From Nigeria, Lawmakers Task Security Chiefs
The Senate on Thursday frowned at the spate of insecurity in the country, as it called on security agencies to rise to the occasion and end the menace.
The mandate of the Upper Chamber followed the summoning of Service Chiefs including; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
It also invited the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The Red Chamber in a motion inspired by the kidnap on Wednesday, of five female students from the Federal University Dunsin-Ma in Katsina state, called on the military and other security agencies to conduct special operations to dislodge the bandits in the Northwest zone and other parts of Nigeria with similar experience.
The motion was moved by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina Central).
Yar’Adua in his lead debate raised serious concerns on the kidnap of five female students of the Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA) in Katsina State by gunmen from their hostel rooms in the early hours of Wednesday, October 4.
He also noted that 24 school students of Federal University of Gusau were also abducted, Fortunately, 16 of them were successfully freed 3 days later during the rescue.
The lawmakers further tasked the security agencies to be more proactive and ensure the rescue of the abducted female students as well as the corps members kidnapped by terrorists in Zamfara State.
They urged the military to conduct special operations to dislodge bandits in the North-West and in other parts of the country and also called on the Federal Government to address the manpower deficit in the armed forces and police.
The Senators also emphasised the need for the creation of state police as one of the solutions to the security challenges in the country.
