Boko Haram: Blame judiciary for insecurity •Service chiefs tell Senate •We lack equipment

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Judiciary, Legislature, Senate Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

THE Senate, on Tuesday, met security chiefs in the country over the state of insecurity, sequel to their being summoned last week to appear before the whole house to give detailed explanations on their efforts to curtail the menace.
The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, was attended by the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Andrew Azazi; the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim; the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong and the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin.

The Senate, which suspended the screening of ministerial nominees till today (Wednesday), however received from President Goodluck Jonathan the name of former Minister of Finance and current Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okojo-Iweala, for screening and confirmation as a minister and withdrew the name of Rivers State nominee, Mr Tonye Cole.

The suspension of the screening, according to the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, was to give the president the opportunity to harmonise all the nominees before the screening and confirmation would commence, saying that they would work hard to conclude the confirmation in time.

At the meeting, it was learnt that the security chiefs informed the senators that there was need for the judiciary to be integrated into the efforts to contain the sliding security situation, especially in the area of granting bail to the suspects as they berated the judiciary of non-cooperation.

Also, the security chiefs were said to have complained of inadequate funding and lack of equipment, which, they said, were hampering their operations.

However, at a briefing immediately after the meeting, Senator Ndoma-Egba told newsmen that the security chiefs came and disclosed that they (security) had been making arrests.

According to him, “they gave us detailed briefing, mentioning names of those that had been arrested, but you know after arrest, they are obliged to take those arrested to court and, most often, they are granted bail and they return to their nefarious ways.

“One of the issues was the need for the judiciary to be integrated into the effort to fight terrorism. One of the challenges is that there was no law under which some of the infractions could be charged, but with the promulgation of the Anti-Terrorism Act, I think we now have an appropriate legal framework within which to deal with the situation that we have.

“Beyond that, the promulgation of the Anti-Terrorism Act has also given confidence to the international community of the readiness of Nigeria to combat terrorism.

“But we were assured by the security chiefs that they are on top of the situation. The briefing was extensive and covered every aspect of the security challenges currently facing our country, including the Boko Haram phenomenon. Questions were asked, clarifications sought and they were given. At the end of the day, I can say with certainty that the security chiefs have assured Nigerians that they are on top of the situation and that these challenges, especially the challenge of Boko Haram, will be contained sooner than later,” he said.

Consequently, he explained that the Senate, at the session promised to assist in any way possible to arrest the situation.

But the confirmation and inauguration of ministers by President Jonathan was challenged by Senator Chris Ngige, who made it known that the confirmation was inconclusive since the Senate had not passed the vote and proceedings of the screening and eventual confirmation of the ministers before the president inaugurated them.

The Senate President, David Mark, acknowledged Dr Ngige’s observation but said that a communication from him to the executive on the matter had effectively taken care of his observation.

The Senate commences the screening of the ministerial nominees today.

Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Azazi, in Abuja, on Tuesday stated that only concerted collaborative synergy involving the security agencies, media professionals and other stakeholders would successfully tackle the security challenge.

He noted that as national security was not all about physical security, achieving goals of national development targeted at boosting economic development, ensuring job creation, improving welfare of the citizens and enthroning conducive environment in the country must be vigorously pursued.

Azazi, who spoke at the special session of the National Council on Information and Communications, observed that if there was no information strategy, impression might be given that government was not doing anything and was uncoordinated in its approach to fight terrorism.

Represented by Mr Wole Olaseinde, the NSA regretted that the country was facing critical security challenges, adding that there was the need to arrest the trend, through objective and developmental reporting of events by deploying information and communication technology.

According to him, all stakeholders must work together to achieve the aims and aspirations of the citizenry.

Azazi said there was the need to portray the country in good light, in view of the prevailing security situation which, he observed, had been characterised by bombings, maiming of innocent Nigerians and creating an atmosphere of fear and general insecurity in the minds of the people.

Earlier, the Minister of Information and Communications, Mr Labaran Maku, had disclosed that the Federal Government was exploring necessary measures to tackle the escalating insecurity.

The minister said the essence of the conference was to formulate and implement an all-inclusive public enlightenment campaign strategy against terrorism, violence and disruption of public order.

According to him, “this campaign is a short-to-medium term measure, which must be complemented for the longer term by an advocacy strategy, which publicises on a day-to-day basis the achievements, plans and actions of our various governments in bringing the dividends of democracy to the doorstep of the masses.”

Meanwhile, there was palpable fear and apprehension among residents of Anguwan Kuru at Jahun area of Bauchi, on Tuesday, as policemen raided the area to fish out some suspected members of the dreaded Jamma’atu Ahl Sunnati Lil Da’awati wal Jihad, also known as the Boko Haram sect, from their hideout.

This was even as three people were alleged to have been killed in the raid carried out on Tuesday morning, while many others were said to have sustained injuries.

Mostly affected were people living at Dutse Tanshi, Danjuma Goje Street, Federal Low Cost Housing and Games Village areas of the metropolis.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the raid, which a police source said was aimed at getting rid of Boko Haram hideouts in Bauchi State, lasted almost six hours.

An eyewitness told journalists that he saw one man who was shot in the stomach and another man shot in his hand and legs.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Mohammad Barau, told journalists that the police received information that criminals were hiding in one house at Anguwan Kuru, adding that this prompted the command to send its men to the area, to authenticate the veracity of the information.

He said when the team of policemen sent to the area got there, it cordoned off the house, adding that people inside the house opened fire on the police, but could not, however, match their superior firepower.

According to him, when the house was searched, the police recovered a gun and rounds of ammunition, adding that the injured were arrested and taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

Asked whether the suspects were members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, Barau said he was yet to establish this, adding that he could not say the number of people either killed or injured, as the team that carried out the operation was yet to submit its report.

In another development, hell broke loose at the Amenity ward of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, on Monday night, when armed men shot a patient dead and injured a nurse on duty.

The patient, Mr Richard Odili, President-General of Utchi Community Youths in Ndokwa East of the state and a Kwale-based businessman, was admitted to the ward on June 29 for treatment.

According to findings by the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, the gangsters, all dressed in mobile police uniform entered the ward at about 8.30 p.m, went straight to the patient on the bed and shot him many times.

It was gathered that two members of the murder squad first entered in the ward and made an enquiry, after which they retreated only to return in the company of others to accomplish their mission.

One of female nurses who tried to stop the hoodlums was shot in the thigh and was now responding to treatment.

The medical director of the outfit, Dr Leo Erhum-wunse, declined to speak on the incident, but when contacted, the state PPRO, Charles Muka, confirmed the story, saying that investigation was in progress.

-Vanguardwp_posts