Insecurity: Sack Monguno, Magashi, reps members agitate

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BY ABUBAKAR H. MUHAMMAD, APRIL 14, 2022 | 02:15 PM


Green chamber of the Nigerian National Assembly has accused security agents of aiding bandits who continue to terrorize communities across the northern region of the country.

The chamber said this during a plenary on Wednesday, while condemning the recent killings by bandits in Benue, Taraba and Plateau states.

They also condemned the other security challenges in other parts of the country.

YERWA EXPRESS NEWS reported how about 96 people, including a traditional leader in Taraba were reportedly killed with several others injured after the bandits’ attack.

Speaking at the plenary, Yusuf Gagdi, chairman, house committee on navy, moved a motion to remind government of its primary responsibility.

Titled: ‘Terrorist Attacks on Kanam and Wase Communities of Plateau State,’ he said the first responsibility of any government is the security of lives and the welfare of its people.

He said this while lamenting that the national assembly had kept appropriating more funds to the security forces but the assembly is not holding the security agencies accountable for the growing insecurity in the country.

He was quoted by The Punch to have said: ‘Nigerians are being killed on a daily basis. We have a President. We have governors. We have the National Assembly; we have Senators and Representatives put together. Who is responsible for the safety and security of lives and property of the people of this country? Of course, without any fear of political misrepresentation, it is Mr President.

‘Is our President aware of what is happening to the people of this country? Is he holding the strategic operational commanders responsible for the failure in the protection of lives and property of the people of this country?’

Other lawmakers, Messrs Bem Mzondu and John Dyegh also moved a separate motion of urgent public importance on the killings in Benue State.

The chamber alleged that the security chiefs are benefitting from insecurity in the country because of the huge allocation of funds to the defense sector.

Fatuhu Mohammed, a member representing Daura/Sandamu Federal Constituency made the allegation at the plenary saying that those in charge of the security are benefitting from the crises and have turned them into business enterprise, without being checkmated.

He however called for better oversight by the national assembly, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari should also be held responsible for the situation.

Sack NSA and defense minister

At the session, the lawmakers also demanded the removal of Retired Major General Babagana Monguno, the national security adviser, NSA, and Retired Major General Bashir Magashi, the minister of defense, noting that huge security funds meant for tackling insecurity in the country are not justified.

Usman Kumo, chairman, house committee on police affairs, made the call for their sacking while commenting on the previous motions.

‘If the President means well for this country, and if we are really trying to look for a solution, he has to immediately sack the National Security Adviser. Two, he has to remove his Minister of Defense,’ he said.

Also responding, Ahmed Wase, the deputy speaker of the house who presided over the session also alleged that some personnel of the military and paramilitary agencies were aiding and abetting criminals to launch havoc on communities.

He said there was an early warning about the attacks on Plateau communities, which he raised on the floor of the house via a motion and was debated by the lawmakers.

He explained that he has visited remote and dangerous areas in his constituency in order to analyze the situations, make and present cases that will inform security agencies.

He noted that from his findings, attacks were more frequent in communities with economic opportunities especially where there are natural resources.

‘In my own community, we had a soldier who was supposed to be in Zamfara given a pass consecutively for six months. He was arrested (for) giving uniforms to the bandits.

‘Till this moment, he has not been ‘court-martialed’. If his station was in Zamfara and he was found in Plateau at the same time, who was giving him the pass and what is their interest in giving a security agent a six-month pass?

‘Another one was arrested from the same community with ammunition. Until this moment, I don’t know… Even when we raised the motion, it was sufficient for the security (agencies) to act but they were adamant.

‘Among the people that were arrested were their (attackers’) informants and collaborators. One was communicating with them (community) from the detention camp and telling them (the people) that he was going to go out. At the end of the day, he got out. When he got out, his wife was arrested with drugs,’ he added.


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