By Christiana Ekpa
The Federal House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Office of the National Security Adviser to coordinate intelligence and security operations in the country, particularly in Kaduna State following last week’s abduction of over 200 students in the Chikun Local Government Area of the State by suspected bandits.
The House’s resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion on matter of urgent public important titled, “Urgent need to tackle the abhorrent abduction of over 200 students in Kuriga community of Chikun and secure lives and property in Kaduna State moved by member representing Lere Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, Ahmed Munir on the floor of the House during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Recall that gunmen stormed the Local Education Authority Primary School and Government Secondary School in Kuriga Community, taking into captivity over 200 pupils and students.
Leading the debate, the lawmaker noted that just two months ago, a school principal, Abu Sufyan, was killed and his wife and baby abducted, adding that “The wife and baby were later rescued in a successful joint security operation on February 3, 2024.
He said, “The House is aware that on Friday March 8, 2024, gunmen attacked worshippers in a mosque at Angwar Makera, Kwasakwasa Community in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, with two persons declared dead.
“This worrisome trend of violence is seeping into other parts of the state affecting persons of all religious and ethnic backgrounds.
Concerned that despite the 3.25 trillion Naira allocated to the defense and security sector on drones and other military equipment that could have tracked, located and rescued victims represent 11.8 percent of the national budget in 2024, yet, there has been no respite as bulk of the actions by security personnel are reactionary rather than proactive.
Also concerned of the negative effect of the restrictive envelope system, that does not prioritize the actual needs assessment of the security sector when it comes to procurement, planning and recruitment of personnel.
Aware that in May 2014, the Nigerian Government with an initial ten million dollars, with another additional pledge of ten million dollars from coalition of Nigerian business leaders along with the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown launched the Safe Schools Initiative, whereby the fund is to be managed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, for protection of students and teachers in areas prone to security threats. “The “Safe School Initiative” entails a combination of (1) school-based interventions; (2) community interventions to protect schools; and (3) special measures for at-risk populations” A decade has gone by and yet the utilization and impact of this fund is at best questionable;
Also aware that the factors fueling insecurity ranging from illicit drug trade, human trafficking and proliferation of small arms is a serious threat to the development of Kaduna State and the Nation and therefore a coordinated effort encompassing all security apparatus and relevant agencies that include and nit limited to Army, Navy, Air force, Police, Civil Defense, Immigration, Customs, NDLEA, DSS, DIA, NIA, Military Intelligence, Financial Intelligence Unit to track terrorism funding, NAPTIP, Refugee Commission anchored by the Office of the National Security must quit working in silos and draw up and execute a comprehensive plan. A Marshall plan on security with short-, medium- and long-term goals with specific timelines that holds security personnel found incapable accountable and to be replaced with capable hands;
Cognizant that Kaduna State borders the North-Western states of Zamfara, Katsina and Kano, borders the North-Eastern State of Bauchi and the North Central States of Plateau, Nasarawa, Abuja and Niger and therefore an isolated plan for just Kaduna alone will be ineffective without taking cognizant of border communities and even neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin Republic and the wider Sahel.
