Senate Calls Emergency Meeting of Security Chiefs Amid Soaring Insecurity

By Iyojo Ameh

In response to the escalating insecurity plaguing Nigeria, the Nigerian Senate has summoned security chiefs for an urgent meeting, with the specific date yet to be determined.

Following a closed-door session lasting over three hours, the Senate strongly condemned the surge in kidnappings, banditry, and the brutal killing of innocent citizens by criminal elements.

Senate Leader Michael Bamidele Opeyemi revealed that all 109 senators sponsored the motion addressing the critical issue of insecurity due to its paramount importance.

During the deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed profound concern regarding the increasing incidents of banditry and kidnappings, emphasizing that the situation has reached a point where intermediaries are facilitating ransom payments on behalf of kidnappers.

Akpabio vehemently denounced recent attacks, particularly those by bandits in Plateau and the tragic gas explosion in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

Furthermore, Akpabio announced that a specific date for the appearance of security chiefs before the Senate will be decided, underscoring the gravity of the security challenges facing the nation.

The lawmakers paid tribute to the lives lost in the recent attacks and the Ibadan explosion by observing a one-minute silence.

The Senate has adjourned until Tuesday, February 6, 2024, as the nation awaits decisive actions to address the growing security concerns.