By Adedayo Akinwale
The House of Representatives has ordered an investigation into recurring incidents of leakage of classified security documents to the public through various social media platforms — online print media and other sources.
This act, it said, was jeopardising the fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in the country.
The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at plenary Thursday by Hon. Samuel Adejare.
He said: “The recurring incidents of leakage of classified security documents to the public through various social media platforms, online, print media and other sources are jeopardizing the fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in the country.”
Adejare said the federal government has made concerted efforts through provision of human, material and financial resources in the fight against insecurity.
According to him, “We are concerned that the leakage of classified security documents and other acts of sabotage is causing failure of intelligence gathering, misunderstanding and lack of cohesion among operatives involved in different operations against insurgency and other acts of terrorism in Nigeria.”
The lawmaker noted that the unfortunate situation was enabling other acts of crimes and criminalities such as jailbreaks, mass abductions, invasion of farms and animal rustling
He expressed worry that if such acts of sabotage are left unchecked, they may pose great risks to the lives of security personnel and ultimately imperil the country.
The House therefore mandated “the Committee on National Security and Intelligence to carry out a detailed investigation on the matter and report back within two weeks for further legislative action”.
