The House of Representatives Committee on Defence has held an emergency meeting with military authorities over the lingering insecurity in the country.
It was gathered that the committee’s meeting with the military high command came barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari met with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
This followed the threats by the terrorists to attack the nation’s capital.
The Star had reported that the gunmen attacked a military checkpoint at the Zuma Rock, Madalla, a few kilometres from the Presidential Villa.
This came after the Presidential Guards Brigade was attacked by terrorists along the Bwari-Kubwa road in Abuja where a captain, lieutenant and six soldiers were reportedly killed, while others were injured.
It was further learnt that the gunmen were heading to the Nigerian Law School in Bwari when they attacked the troops last Sunday.
The terrorists were said to have laid siege to the nation’s capital with the intention to attack the residents and government facilities.
Also, last Sunday, the terrorists, via a video, threatened to abduct President Buhari and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Some opposition senators, especially those elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had issued a six-week ultimatum to the President to address the worsening insecurity across the country or face impeachment proceedings.
It was gathered that some aggrieved APC senators, who lost return tickets, supported the move by their PDP colleagues to impeach the President.
However, it was learnt that the House of Representatives security committee held an emergency meeting with the military authorities on the measures being taken to curb the security threats.
Though the National Assembly has commenced its two-month annual recess, the leadership of the lower chamber of the National Assembly asked the committees on security to continue working with the military and paramilitary agencies to address the rising insecurity in the country.
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It was learnt that the House leadership cancelled the committee members’ recess so that they could focus on the urgent security issues.
The security panels include the Committee on Defence, Committee on Army, Committee on Air Force, Committee on Navy, Committee on National Security and Intelligence, and the Committee on Police Affairs.
According to PUNCH, the meeting was confirmed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson.
Benson further disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force collaborated with the Nigerian Army by deploying armed aircraft to dispel terrorists who attempted to attack the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, and other locations around Abuja’s borders with Niger and Kaduna states last Sunday.
“The raid was in conjunction with the Nigerian Air Force. Helicopters were used to extensively cause collateral damage to them (terrorists). Their camps were destroyed and that informed the sporadic shooting in other places.
“They were just targeting soft targets and continued shooting just to make everyone have fear, their major weapon. Once you feel you are not secure, everybody goes back to attack the government.
“But a lot still needs to be done. Security needs an all-government and all-society approach.
”While the terrorists were camping there, we will like to find some well-meaning Nigerians who will provide intelligence. When there is such an approach, intelligence gathering will be easier,” he said.
Also speaking on the development, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Adejoro Adeogun, said the committees would be working during the break due to the security situation.
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