Insecurity: Equip Police More, Nigerian Army In Dire Straits – Reps

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  • Lawmakers flay inadequate funding, poor equipment

Hon. Namdas (standing) during the visit to Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr Manasseh Daniel Jatau

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, GOMBE – The House of Representatives says only effective training and enhanced capacity building can equip the Nigeria Police to effectively deliver on its constitutional mandate of protecting and securing lives and property in the country.

It is therefore incumbent on the Federal Government to embrace this noble path that will ultimately reduce pressure on the Nigerian Army currently handling many security challenges bedeviling the country, the lower legislative chamber maintained

Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Nigerian Army, Abdulrazak Namdas, stated this when they visited Gombe state Governor, Inuwa Yahaya on Tuesday as part of the Committee’s oversight function.

Namdas, who spoke to journalists shortly after the courtesy visit, said the Army is not only overstretched, but cannot also be a substitute for the Nigeria Police in handling the civil populace.

He said with a well trained and equipped Police Force, the Nigerian Army would have no business being dragged into quelling any civil disturbances that have gradually metamorphosed into serious security challenges in many parts of the country.

The lawmaker frowned at the current situation where Army is overstressed with their personnel are almost in all States on peace missions and having so much on their hands to contend with.

According to him, “the Nigerian Army is in 34 out of the 36 States of Nigeria for one duty or the other. We should not toy with the esteemed position and influence of the Army. Some issues are best handled by the Police, that is why the Federal Government should train and equip the Nigeria Police Force adequately for optimum performance”.

Namdas said; ” Once you train and equip the Police, you may need less of the Army on small small matters. Normally, it is when things are beyond the Police and DSS that the Army comes in”.

He commended the Gombe State Government for its interventions in security matters such as approving the locations for a Police Academy; building of Army barracks; and Air Force base among many others in the State.

Responding to the Committee’s remarks, the Governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Manasseh Daniel Jatau, said the administration is fully aware that no meaningful achievements can be made in an atmosphere where insecurity thrives.

According to him, “that is why we made security number one and that informed our various security arrangements and interventions”, he stated adding that, the State has had a long standing cordial working relationship with the Army which has helped the State a lot.

He noted that the Nigerian Army is faced with numerous challenges, and the lawmakers can do more in the area of funding and equipping them to handle existing and emerging security threats to the peace and unity of Nigeria.

Gov Inuawa Yahaya

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