Senate calls for total overhaul of National security architecture

The Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, resolved to set up an Adhoc Committee to look into the national security architecture of the country, with the view of proferring lasting solutions to the menace of insecurity in Nigeria.
To achieve this aim, the Senate said the Adhoc Committee upon inauguration, would work in consultations with the heads of security agencies in Nigeria, to enable it work effectively.

This was sequel to a motion moved by Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura (Zamfara North), on the need to look into the killings and arson that took place in Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara state.
Some armed bandits had on Friday 17th November 2017, invaded four communities in Shinkafi local government area, killing about 23 villagers while four other villages were burnt to ashes.
Senator Kaura said the fact that Zamfara is surrounded by two major forests of Sugugu and Rugu makes the bandits to find cover in those forests, to continue to terrorise innocent villagers, thereby making Zamfara more vulnerable than other states.
He said the bandits would always surround the villages and block all escape routes and burn down houses and silos, while carting away with dozens of cows aand other domestic animals.

In his contribution, the deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, canvased for state police, as a way of complementing the role of the Nigerian Police Force.
This stand was however, greeted with missed reactions, while some lawmakers supported the establishment of state or community police network to help curb the spate of insecurity in rural areas, others expressed fear that such policy would be rubbished by Chief Executives of various states.
They, however, admitted that the National security architecture of the country had collapsed and hence, the need for total overhaul.
The Senate specifically called on federal government to evaluate OPERATION HARBIN KUNAMA and up with a clear policy on the protection of its citizens especially those in rural areas.

In his ruling, Senate President Saraki said “people now carry arms illegally all over the place. In the past, many committees have been set up to look at the reform of the police and as of today, no action has been taken.
“The good point as somebody said, is for us to redesign the structure and decide the solution, not solution before the design”.