Insecurity: Reps condemn attacks on security personnel, ask Buhari to declare state of emergency

Members of the House of Representatives have condemned the attacks on security personnel and formations in some parts of the country, just as they sympathized with their families, as well as the communities that have been victims of banditry, terrorism, and criminal acts.

The lawmakers, also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately declare a state of emergency on security.

Considering the worsening insecurity, they believe this will ensure the fast track of all measures towards restoring peace in the country.

The call formed part of the resolutions reached at the closed-door session to discuss pressing national issues, on Tuesday at the lower chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Reading the other resolutions reached by the lawmakers at the end of the meeting, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, informed that the House Security Committees were mandated to immediately commence comprehensive audit of all military and paramilitary assets and arms and revert back within four weeks.

They reechoed their commitment to the security and corporate existence of Nigeria and vowed to accelerate engagements with stakeholders on a special security summit to be organised by the House.

The lower House also resolved to urgently invite the National Security Adviser, service chiefs, and heads of various paramilitary agencies, as well as the Managing Director of Nigerian COMSAT to brief the lawmakers on the security situation in the country.

According to them, as part of measures to curb the spate of violence, the lawmakers asked the judiciary to accelerate the prosecution of those awaiting trial for banditry, terrorism, and other criminal activities.

Also, they called for the provision of relief to all communities that have been adversely affected by recent attacks across the country.

They also asked the President to ensure financial autonomy to local government councils to guarantee their functionality to serve the local populace.

The lawmakers called on the Federal Government to ensure the protection of national Infrastructure assets, particularly the Shiroro and Kainji Dams in Niger State.

They noted that the number of personnel in the police and military falls far short of the required number to effectively secure the country and immediate recruitment it required.