by Azeez Adeniyi

The Senate has called on the Federal Government to deploy the military to Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory to tackle militancy.

The lawmakers granted the prayers of a motion moved by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (APC/Lagos East) at the plenary on Tuesday.

The prayer include to “advise the Federal Government to direct the Inspector General of Police to immediately instruct the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, to beef up the strength of the task force already on ground in order to effectively secure all the affected creeks and communities.”

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The motion also advised “the Federal Government to direct the Inspector General of Police to immediately make available sufficient helicopters for aerial surveillance and gunboats to the Marine Police department of the Lagos State Police Command, in order to enable the state command effectively tackle the activities of the militants.”

Ashafa added, “The Senate is alarmed that the recent kidnap incidents have assumed a totally new and disturbing dimension in the sense that just yesterday, 9th April, 2017, a Nigerian Army captain identified as Muhammed, two other soldiers, four policemen and a civilian lost their lives after suspected militants attacked Ishawo in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.”

The Senate urged the Army and Navy to assist the Police to rid Lagos of militants.

Azeez