Senate will adopt a radical approach in tackling insecurity, says Lawan
- President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, is concerned about the spate of insecurity in the country
- Lawan said the Senate will adopt a radical approach in tackling the rising spate of kidnapping and insecurity
- The Senate has also resolved to introduce legislation that would curb the activities of kidnappers in the country
President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, on Wednesday, October 2, said the Nigerian Senate will adopt a radical approach in tackling the rising spate of kidnapping and insecurity across the country.
Lawan made this known during the consideration of a motion brought to the floor by Senate Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West senatorial district.
Lawan said: “The issue of kidnapping, banditry and other crimes affect all of us. I agree completely that we need to do something differently.
“You recall that before we went on recess, we agreed we need to go back to the report to review the architecture of security in Nigeria, which the 8th Senate set up, in addition to a public hearing on a way to ensure that we review the security architecture and structure of our agencies today.
“The way they are designed, we are not getting the best out of them; and we can’t go on like this. We will take it up with the executive arm of government, and also our committee on communications and the federal ministry of communications.”
Lawan stated that the ministry has expressed its willingness to block the phone lines that have not been registered.
“The bandits and kidnappers use telephone lines to negotiate, so it means there will always be a lead to where or who they are.
“At the last count, I was told two million lines have been blocked. I think we should go far beyond that.
“And maybe we will need to be a bit radical. We need to give the security agencies some more funds but insist on accountability,” he added.
He urged the security agencies to give an account of the utilisation of funds released to them.
Accordingly, the Senate urged the security agencies to adequately secure the Lokoja-Abuja road and other roads in the country.
The upper chamber also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to intensify efforts in protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians.
The Senate also resolved to introduce legislation that would curb the activities of kidnappers in the country.
Senator Melaye who had earlier presented the motion while coming under a point of order, was unanimously supported by lawmakers across party lines.
Meanwhile, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, Nigeria (WANEP-Nigeria) and its member organisations have expressed deep concerns over the recurrent inter-ethnic violence between Tiv and Jukun communities.
The WANEP said reports on the statistics of fatalities arising from the ethnic violence reveal a death toll of over 600 people with several others injured between Tuesday, April 2 to Saturday, August 3 in both states.
WANEP stated that statistics from its news has recorded the deaths of 41 people from September Sunday, September 1 to Wednesday, September 18 in Takum and Wukari local government areas of Taraba state.
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FCT residents lament over rising cases of kidnappings in Abuja | Legit TV
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