The Senate has asked the security chiefs to use biometric systems in nabbing criminals including kidnappers and terrorists.
The Senate also stressed the need for collaboration between the security agencies and the Ministry of Interior in tracking criminals electronically.
The upper legislative chamber stated these on Tuesday when it met service chiefs and heads of other security agencies on the rising insecurity in the country.
The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, started at 12.3pm and ended at 9.30pm.
Those present at the meeting were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt – -General Taoheed Lagbaja; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director General of Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
Others are the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawale, Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Geidam, Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Ibrahim; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun and Director General of National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
The Senate had two weeks ago called for a meeting with only the security chiefs, but adjourned the meeting with a view to seeking robust opinions with sister organisations and connected ministries. Addressing the press after the marathon meeting, the Spokesperson for the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu said, “ We spoke the truth to ourselves because we were very concerned about the security.
“And if we are talking about growth and development, there is no way; we can push security out of it.’’
The lawmaker added that the Senate listened to security chiefs who also expressed some of their challenges.
He added, “They told us of so many other issues and we also relayed to them our experiences and those of our constituents of what they have been facing. Samples of what had happened, the horrendous situations that Nigerians had found themselves in, even in Abuja here.
“The service chiefs allayed our fears and even answered our questions satisfactorily. They communicated their plans to nip insecurity in the bud.”
Senator Adramodu said, “They told us even what they have been doing, even about the Bwari Kidnap saga and how they have been able to arrest the suspects who are currently under trial.
He said the Senate asked the interior minister to ensure the use of biometric systems in arresting kidnappers.
