The House of Representatives has held an investigative hearing on the recent attack by terrorists on the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS in Kuje, Abuja.
The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence Chairman, Mr Sha’aban Saraba, said the House resolution to investigate the attack that led to the escape of 64 inmates was sequel to a motion moved at the plenary.
He said that the House had on July, inaugurated a joint committee on national security in the wake of the attack to investigate and come up with possible recommendation that would forestall a re-occurrence.
Honourable Saraba said that the committee would ascertain the roles played by security and intelligence agencies in the security breach and proffer ways to mitigate against reoccurrence.
He noted that the concerned security agencies had so many questions to answer as regards the security breach that caused the Nigerian government great embarrassment.
According to him, this is to ascertain the circumstances under which it was carried out in a bid to address all national security challenges.
He urged the intelligence community and security agencies to provide useful information for the success of the national assignment.
The joint Committees on the need to investigate the terrorist attack on Nigerian correctional Centre, Kuje, was co-chaired by Chairman, House Committee on Army, Honourable Abdulrazak Namdas and Chairman, House Committee on Intelligence, Honourable Ibrahim Shaban and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Honourable Babatunde Ayeni.
Members of the joint Committees comprise of three members from the House Committees on Army, Police, Reformatory, Navy, Intelligence, and Defence.
The heads of the security Agencies who attended are: Director General of Department of State Security (DSS), Director General of Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), Deputy Commandant General of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
It would be recalled that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Idris Wase had during the debate on the motion on the ‘Need to halt the proposed nationwide ban on Commercial Motorcycles’, sponsored by Hon. Abubakar Yalleman (APC-Jigawa), held on Tuesday, 26th July, 2022, disclosed that the Directorate of Security Service (DSS) issued 44 security reports ahead of the Correctional Service facility, Kuje Area Council of Abuja, by members of the terrorist group, boko haram.
Also recall that the the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the aegis of Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room who converged in Abuja, had on the 2nd August, 2022 which comprises of over 70 CSOs who spoke through its Convener during a press conference, Ms. Ene Obi, called for a thorough investigation into the jailbreak in Kuje Medium Security Correctional Facility.
The CSOs who frowned at the spate of insecurity ravaging the country, underscored the need for the removal of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola as well as those responsible for guarding the Prison.
Worried by the unabated cases of security challenges ravaging the country unchecked, the CSOs called for the removal of the Service Chiefs and immediate appointment of new people with a clear mandate to deliver at a particular time or be equally removed like their predecessors.
Confidence Okwuchi
