July 03, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Senate has condemned recent attacks on Gwoza town in Borno State by suicide bombers, urging the Federal Government to direct the military to rethink its conventional methods of counter-insurgency by deploying modern technology and scientific tactics.
According to the lawmakers, relying on conventional methods alone, like the deployment of troops, appeared not to be succeeding as terrorists continued to use non-conventional approaches.
They spoke on Wednesday, during a debate on a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume.
Moving the motion titled, “Suicide Attacks in Gwoza, Borno State: The Urgency to Stem the Tide of This Ugly Menace”, Ndume raised the urgency for the government to prioritise security and devote more funds for procurement of modern technological equipment to counter terrorism.
“Urge the Federal Government to direct the security agencies in the country to deploy the use of modern technology in the fight against insurgency and to make concerted efforts in securing the hot spots inhabited by the insurgents, namely the Lake Chad Region, Sambisa Forest, and Mandara Mountains, respectively,” he said.
Majority of the Senators supported the motion along with the prayer that the deployment of technology, including drones, was the way to go.
However, former Governor of Edo State and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, raised allegations of “diversion of funds” by former service chiefs.
Oshiomhole alleged that funds budgeted for the armed forces for procurement of equipment were instead used by the former security heads to build universities in their local communities.
According to Oshiomhole, what is more regrettable is that the universities are not “teaching anything about security” but existing as conventional universities.
“Yes, the funds were diverted to build public universities, but my view is that those funds should have been invested in buying modern technology and equipment for the armed forces to fight this insurgency. Every security chief wants to build a university in his village”, he added.
Oshiomhole also recalled how the Senate found out that funds voted for the use of the Nigerian Navy were later changed to buying a yacht.
However, his additional prayer, seeking to investigate how the former security heads utilised the funds voted for the armed forces under their watch, was roundly rejected in a majority voice vote.
Shocked by the development, Senate President Godswill Akpabio took the vote a second time, and twice it was rejected.
Akpabio also blamed the success of the suicide attacks on Gwoza town on the failure of intelligence.
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