Abuja under threat — Senate 

The Senate on Wednesday expressed worry over insecurity, declaring that the nation’s seat of power was under threat. 

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had been infiltrated, buttressing his point with references to attacks in places like Kubwa, Bwari, among others.

Akpabio spoke before the Senate adjourned its briefing with heads of security agencies to next week over the absence of National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa.

The Red Chamber had last week summoned the security chiefs to brief it on the spate of insecurity in Nigeria and effort to address the menace.

Ignore nationwide protests over hardship at your peril, APC Chieftain warns Tinubu

US: Vote delaying Senegal presidential poll ‘not legitimate’

The invitation came as there was a spike in killings and kidnappings in many part of the country, including the FCT.

However, the security meeting earlier scheduled to hold Wednesday was postponed to February 13 after the Senate had admitted those present into the chamber.

Those in attendance were Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff; Emmanuel Ogalla, chief of naval staff; and Hassan Abubakar, chief of airstaff; Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), and Yusuf Bichi, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Akpabio said the interactive session with heads of security agencies was shifted because some of those invited did not show up.

He said the chief of defence staff, director general of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai and defence and police affairs ministers needed to be present to have a holistic review of the situation.

Speaking before adjourning the security briefing, the Senate President said “The situation is worrisome in Agatu, in Taraba, Oyo, Plateau, Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi. We also heard about the infiltration (of bandits) into the federal capital territory (FCT) in places like Kubwa and Bwari.

“We have heard reports that they have cells where they are congregating. We’ve also heard the efforts of the security chiefs and the security agencies but reports are becoming worrisome and we decided to invite you to brief us on the efforts to tackle this menace.

“While we welcome you, we are not passing the buck, we are not blaming you. But you are not complete.

“We want you to know that we represent the Nigerian people and we will only do their will. The Senate is of the view that the FCT is under threat.

“We received apologies from NSA that he is in a bilateral meeting with security chiefs from the UK. We believe that the team is still not complete.

“But my opinion is that we would like to have with you, the chief of Defence Staff, NSA, Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Defence, we will also want the minister of Police affairs, and the Minister of State for Police Affairs in addition.

“We strongly believe that the Director General of NIA should be in attendance, and the Minister of Finance should also be in attendance,” Akpabio said.

Those expected at the Tuesday’s meeting are the Chief of Defense Staff; National Security Adviser; Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff; the Chief of the Air Staff, the Inspector General of Police; the Director General of DSS; NIA DG; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam; and Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim.

Also, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo are expected to be in attendance.

Akpabio, thereafter, directed the clerk of the senate to inform those invited to be present next week.