Reps accuse neighbouring countries of fuelling insecurity in Nigeria

The House of Representatives has accused neighboring countries of fuelling insecurity in Nigeria.

The allegation of the lower legislative chamber came after its defense committee met with the security chiefs in Abuja on Wednesday.

The meeting was held to deliberate on the worsening state of insecurity bedeviling the nation.

Addressing newsmen after the gathering, Babajimi Benson, chairman, house committee on defence, said there could be some truth in a similar allegations previously made by the Conflict Armament Research (CAR).

“Yes, that is part of the things we discussed. There could be some truths in that,” Mr Benson said when queried if it was true some neighbouring countries were aiding insecurity in Nigeria.

The defense committee chairman said the meeting with the service chiefs which the house had earlier called on to resign went well.

“We were to a large extent satisfied with what they said. Like I said, we are also going to table what they said before the parliament,” Benson said.

“Military issues are not things we should discuss in public but they raised a lot of issues that we must all sit down as Nigerians and discuss. One of them is that, there is probably an international dimension to what we see. There is ISIS, there is ISWAP. These are things that we need to discuss in a very classified manner.

“But what we want Nigerians to know is that we are committed to them 100 percent, to see that we assist the military and the armed forces and ensuring that this matter is put to an end within the shortest possible time,” he added.

On its resolution that the service chiefs should step aside over the rising insecurity, the committee chairman said what the house could only do was to recommend while President Muhammadu Buhari is the one to act on its recommendations.

“We can suggest but it is a function of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces; the buck stops at his table.

“It is not a u-turn but the most important thing that Nigerians want is the security of their lives and for their properties to be protected,” he added.