Insecurity: NSA Briefs Senate Behind Close-doors

• Senators ask Monguno to coordinate security agencies
• .82 lives reportedly lost in Zamfara

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Senate thursday held a closed-door meeting with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-Gen Baba Gana Monguno (rtd) over the mounting security challenges facing the nation.

The security briefing which lasted from 12.40p.m to 3.10p.m, according to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, deliberated extensively on the myriad of security problems bedevilling the country.

Saraki, who gave a summary of the two and a half hour-long security briefing, said Monguno answered questions from senators on terrorism, kidnapping and general killings across the country.

He added that the NSA was subsequently asked to ensure proper co-ordination of the nation’s security agencies.
According to him, the NSA was thereafter directed to submit to the Senate “special funding requests in form of financial requirements to tackle the identified security challenges and relevant amendments to existing security laws.”

Yesterday’s security meeting at the Senate chambers was sequel to a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan and seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda that the Committee of the Whole receive the NSA “to brief the Senate on the proliferation of dangerous firearms, spate of killings by terrorists and kidnapping by hoodlums across the country.”

Yesterday’s meeting with the NSA is a follow up to last week Wednesday’s meeting between the Senate and Security agencies led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, over the high level of insecurity of lives and property across the length and breath of Nigeria
The NSA who was expected to be at last week’s meeting however took his turn yesterday to brief the members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Senator Kabiru Marafa had earlier during plenary yesterday told the Senate that in less than a week 82 people lost their lives in Zamfara State

His words: “ Human lives are being butchered on daily basis since Friday in Zamfara State.
“Those killed left behind 101 widows and 205 orphans. The matter is so serious and there is the urgent need to ask all security agencies to do the needful.”

Marafa while calling for the observation of a minute silence in honour of the deceased requested that the Senate take urgent steps towards stopping the killings
Responding, Saraki who approved the observance of the minute silence said it was high time government addressed the issue of killings in the country.

He promised that he would lead a Senate delegation to Zamfara State and other crisis areas “so as to see things first hand with a view to knowing what next to do.”