The Senate’s summoning of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; the Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, reflects the gravity of the situation.
The recent attacks on Miango village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State have sparked outrage and concern in Nigeria. The Senate has taken a decisive step by summoning the country’s top security officials to explain the military’s perceived lapses in handling the situation.
The Upper Chamber has squarely blamed the Christmas Eve massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 190 people in Plateau State, on the failure of military intelligence and reaction. This has been described as a national tragedy, with the Senate emphasizing the need for a comprehensive review of security strategies.
Senator Diket Plang, who moved the motion during the Senate’s plenary session, highlighted the urgent need for a National Security Summit to address the escalating insecurity in Plateau State. He pointed out that factors such as climate change and illegal mining have contributed to the tensions in the region, calling for proactive measures to prevent further violence.
In response to these developments, Senators have called on President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action to address the security challenges facing the country. They have also urged the Inspector General of Police to expedite the completion of the Mopol Barracks in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area to enhance security in the region.
The Senate has further called on the Plateau State Government to strengthen environmental mining laws to curb the activities of illegal miners. Additionally, it has recommended increased dialogue between traditional rulers and religious leaders in crisis-affected areas, emphasizing the importance of finding lasting solutions to the recurring conflicts.
Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central described the massacre in Plateau as unprecedented, criticizing the lack of action despite prior warnings. Meanwhile, Senator Titus Zam from Benue Northwest has warned that Nigeria is facing serious challenges and called for decisive action to address internal threats.
In light of these developments, Senator Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North has stressed the need for the security chiefs to provide a detailed account of the intelligence failures, acknowledging the public’s growing frustration with the situation.
Source: Vanguard News