From Fred Itua, Abuja
The Senate, yesterday, halted moves by its various standing security committees to probe the military’s spending of previous monies appropriated to tackle insecurity.
If it had allowed it, the committees would have probed how funds were allegedly diverted by former Service Chiefs to build universities and other higher institutions in their villages.
The second phase of the motion frustrated by the Senate was a charge to the various standing security committees to prevent Service Chiefs from using appropriated funds earmarked for security purposes to build institutions in the future.
When the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, subjected the joint amended prayers to a voice vote, the move was rejected by the majority. A second attempt to have it passed was also rebuffed.
Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North had proposed the amendments to a motion sponsored by the Chief Whip, Mohammed Ali Ndume, following last Saturday’s suicide bombings in Gwoza, Borno State.
Meanwhile, the Senate said it has identified three major hot spots in Borno State as enclaves of Boko Haram fighters. It revealed that the suicide female bomber who attempted to detonate the fifth explosive was arrested by officers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of the Military
The Senate said the fourth suicide bomber, in an attempt to evade arrest, detonated the explosive which killed one service soldier from the Southern part of the country.
Last Saturday, teenage female suicide bombers killed over 32 people in Gwoza at social events. Hundreds were severely injured in the attacks.
In a motion sponsored by the Ndume, who incidentally hails from Borno State, the Senate proffered solutions on the way forward. While urging the Federal Government to direct the security agencies in the country to deploy the use of modern technology in the fight against insurgency, it listed Lake Chad Region, Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains, as the new hotbed of Boko Haram
“The fourth suicide bomber detonated the explosive, but he was confronted by the Joint Taskforce Force (JTF). One of the soldiers from Southern Nigeria died in the process. The JTF personnel confronted the suicide bomber, although she still detonated the explosive.
“The military arrested the fifth suicide bomber as she was about to detonate the explosive. She was taken into custody and interrogated by the military. Unfortunately, these people have been indoctrinated. The arrest suicide bomber said she wants to die and go to heaven. That’s how bad it has become.
“These attacks have raised significant concerns about the security situation in the region, which has been a flash point of terrorist attacks over the years, and this calls for concerted and coordinated efforts of the security agencies to address the state of insecurity in Borno State and other parts of the country, experiencing similar situations
Mohammed Monguno, also from Borno State, urged the Federal Government to deploy technology to tackle the rising insecurity, especially in Borno State.
“At a point in time in Borno, weddings and other social activities were conducted individually because of the avalanche of suicide bombings. But over the years, the ability of Boko Haram fighters to inflict injuries and harm was greatly reduced.
“But with their resurgence, we need to do more. We need to deploy technology and arm our military to take the fight to them . This is what we need to do in order to stop them,” he said.
Former Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, said the current administration was yet to make any investment in the security sector since it came on board last year.
“My interest is about the deployment of technologies. But the question is this. Has the Nigerian government made any significant investment in the security of Nigeria so far? There is none so far.
“I urge the Executive arm to prioritise the issue of security. What Nigeria needs today is security. Real investments must be made in the armed forces.
“Drones can be used to fight terrorism and banditry in the country. We should prioritise and provide the technology the armed forces need to prosecute the problem of insecurity. We should spend more on security instead of road investments,” he said.
Akpabio ascribed the suicide bombings in Borno State to a failure of intelligence. “This is a failure of intelligence. Preventive security must also be emphasised. We need to stem the tide of this insecurity and put it to a close.”
A minute silence was observed in honour of those killed in the suicide bombing.
