Last weekend, Boko Haram attacked Dalori village in Borno State, killing dozens of innocent people in what has become a trend of late. Although the Nigerian military has regained most of the territory the terrorist sect held as of this time last year, it has been unable to finish them off or stop such sporadic attacks.
Apart of launching surprise raids ion remote villages, Boko Haram is also still using suicide bombers to attack populated targets. Following last weekend's attacks, senators invited senior military commanders to the National Assembly to explain why the terrorists are still able to cause mayhem.
During the meeting, the chief of defence staff General Abayomi Olonishakin, told senators that the military lacks modern and sophisticated weapons to confront the insurgents. Briefing the senators on the various challenges confronting the military, particularly the poor state of their equipment, he added that the nation's military hardware requires serious upgrading and restocking.
General Olonishakin added that that N29bn appropriated for security in the 2015 supplementary budget has not been released to the military almost two months after it was hurriedly approved by the National Assembly. He pointed out that this was hampering the military's ability to fund its operations.
Other issues that came up for discussion was the need to continuously increase the personnel in the three branches of the military and the hindrance posed by the procurement process which General Olonishakin said was very slow. He and other military chiefs also called for a review of some laws governing their operations to enable them respond to emergency situations in the northeast in accordance with global best practices.
General Olonishakin said: “At the closed-door meeting which lasted for about two hours and was presided over by the senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, several issues tailored at further empowering the security agencies to win the war against the Boko Haram insurgency were discussed in a frank and open exchange between the two sides."
At the meeting, senators assured the military chiefs that they would fast-track the request for the review of the relevant laws by putting them on the priority bills list once they were given adequate information on areas that need to be amended. They also promised to take up the issue of release of funds raised by the military chiefs with the finance ministry immediately.
Presided over by Senator Saraki, the meeting was also attended by his deputy Senator Ike Ekweremadu, senate leader Ali Ndume, majority whip Francis Alimikhena, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy Isa Hama Misau and his colleague in the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Air Force Duro Faseyi. Military commanders who attended it were General Olonishakin, the chief of army staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, the chief of naval staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas and the chief of air staff Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.
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