Just in: Senate orders all service chiefs to step down over insecurity
Following the resolution of the upper legislative chamber which followed a motion sponsored by Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south and chairman of the committee on army Nigeria, the Senate, ordered all the country’s Service Chiefs to step aside over insecurity, directs President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately appoint new ideal ones.
This is coming after Buratai, on Monday while addressing the State House Correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhmmadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, said that the various shades of insecurity in different parts of the country will end as soon as Nigerians want them to end.
Despite calls for the sack of Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Defence Staff; Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff; Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff, and Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff, President Muhammadu Buhari has kept them in office.
While moving the motion, Ndume expressed worry that over 200 soldiers have resigned from the army and that many other members of the armed forces who are scared of losing their lives are also in the process of leaving the military, adding this could affect the fight against insurgency.
Meanwhile, in the past few days, there have been several bloody attacks across the country, amounting to the death of many people in the Southern part of Kaduna and men of the Nigerian Army.
“The Senate notes with concern the number of casualties among the Nigerian army and other security agencies,” he said.
“That just recently 24 soldiers were ambushed and killed along Maiduguri-Damboa road in Borno state, 19 were wounded and nine were declared missing in action.
“In Katsina, soldiers were also ambushed and killed while several others were wounded, the number of casualties is not known.
“The Senate appreciates the sacrifice of our armed forces in the fight against the insurgency and banditry and protection of territorial integrity and several other security assignments given to them.
“The Senate is concerned that if the trend continues, it would have serious implications on the fight against insurgency, banditry.
“It has been alleged that over 200 soldiers voluntarily resigned their engagement or appointment with the Nigerian army.”
The upper legislative chamber also asked the federal government to equip the troops with modern weapons.
The motion was adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News