The House of Representatives has summoned key security and financial officials to explain the utilisation of funds released to security agencies, as concerns mount over worsening insecurity across the country.
Those invited include the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi. Also summoned are the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
The resolution followed deliberations on a series of motions on insecurity adopted during plenary on Tuesday.
The Green Chamber said the invited officials are expected to provide a detailed account of funds disbursed to security agencies in the last six months, amid growing public concern over the effectiveness of government spending in tackling security challenges.
As part of measures to curb the crisis, lawmakers urged the President, Bola Tinubu, to mandate the recruitment of forest guards in states grappling with insecurity, replicating the model recently introduced in Oyo State.
The move comes against the backdrop of a fresh wave of abductions that has triggered outrage nationwide.
Last month, more than 40 students and teachers were reportedly abducted by gunmen in parts of Oyo State. A similar incident occurred in Borno State, where several pupils and school staff were also kidnapped.
The incidents sparked protests by the Nigeria Union of Teachers and other civil society groups, who demanded the immediate rescue of the victims and stronger security measures to protect schools.
In response to the Oyo attack, President Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside top security chiefs, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Gbajabiamila, who addressed the affected community, said the President was deeply disturbed by the incident and had ordered the deployment of all available resources to secure the release of the abducted victims.
The President also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and directed the establishment of a specialised security unit equipped with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to free those in captivity.
Despite these interventions, lawmakers insisted on greater transparency and accountability in the management of security funds, warning that continued attacks on schools and communities underscore the urgency of decisive action.
FOLLOW US
FOR MORE HERE
More details here...
