House Of Reps Summon Service Chiefs, Ribadu Over Nigeria’s Insecurity

The House of Representatives has invited Nigeria’s service chiefs and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to appear before lawmakers over the worsening security situation across the country.

The decision was taken during Tuesday’s plenary after lawmakers approved a motion presented by Sulaiman Gumi, who represents the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State.

Those summoned include Olufemi Oluyede, chief of defence staff; Waidi Shaibu, chief of army staff; Idi Abbas, chief of naval staff; and Sunday Aneke, chief of air staff.

The legislators also summoned Adeola Ajayi, the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS); Taiwo Oyedele, the minister of finance; and Christopher Musa, the minister of defence.

They are expected to brief lawmakers on ongoing efforts to address insecurity and the resources being provided for military operations.

The house specifically requested that the Minister of Finance explain the amount of funding released for the purchase of military equipment needed to combat banditry, terrorism, and other security threats.

The top security officials were asked to appear before the House on Wednesday, where discussions will be held behind closed doors.

While presenting the motion, Gumi said insecurity in Zamfara and other states in the North-West has reached alarming levels, with communities facing constant attacks from armed bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups.

According to him, between June 1 and June 6, gunmen on motorcycles attacked several communities in his constituency, killing at least 95 people.

He also referenced the recent abduction of seven students from the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, who were taken from their off-campus residence during a night attack in early June.

Gumi further revealed that two senior lecturers from the institution had earlier been kidnapped and remained in captivity for over two months despite ransom payments reportedly being made.

The lawmaker warned that the security crisis is no longer limited to Zamfara, noting that similar attacks have spread across several North-West states, including Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, and Jigawa.

He stressed that the continued movement of armed groups across state boundaries poses a major threat to national security and could further damage the region’s economy and social stability if urgent action is not taken.

During the debate, chairman of the house committee on police Abubakar Yelleman urged lawmakers to speed up efforts toward establishing state police as a way of improving security at the local level.

Another lawmaker, Olumide Osoba, argued that state governments could successfully manage their own police structures if the necessary legal and administrative frameworks were in place.

The chairman of the defence committee, Babajimi Benson suggested a review of the country’s cashless policy.

He argued that because electronic transactions can be traced, kidnappers often avoid receiving ransom payments through the banking system.

The motion received unanimous support when Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put it to a voice vote.

Following the resolution, the House also called on President Bola Tinubu to deploy forest guards across the country as part of efforts to strengthen security.

Lawmakers said the move could mirror the intervention introduced in Oyo State following the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso.

The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, including Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School, and LA Primary School.

ALSO READ: Nigerians Should Pray Against Insecurity Instead Of Blaming Tinubu – Adeyinka Alaseyori