By BASHIR BELLO Abuja,
Chairman Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Gobir Ibrahim Abdullahi said that Senate ratified the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya based on his pedigree as a field commander in the theatre of war in the North East.
The senator who spoke to a group of journalists on Wednesday at his office in NASS, complex Abuja, explained that members of the hallowed chambers were impressed after going through the resume of the Chief of Army Staff.
He further explained that if given the necessary support, Maj Gen Yahaya would in conjunction with other service chiefs put an end to the current security challenges bedeviling the nation.
When asked if the new Army Chief would be able to confront the security challenges without the Army being equipped with modern arms, the Sokoto Law Maker said that he believed that the COAS would be able bring about positive change in the fight against insecurity adding that the National Assembly would make sure that the Army gets all the necessary equipments it needs to defeat the insurgency.
Speaking further, he said that his commitee which has oversight functions on the spendings of funds by the Armed Forces, has been monitoring how funds appropriated for the purchase of arms are spent.
He added that no penny appropriated for purchase of arms would be allowed to be misappropriated.
Senator Gobir advice that if the insecurity in the country is to tackled the Government must be proactive.
,”The Federal Government should embark massive recruitment of policemen, massive recruitment of soldiers and Civil Defence personnel in order to put an end to this quagmire.
He further stated that, “apart from massive recruitment of personnel into all sectors of the Armed Forces, there intense training of the recruited personnel.
The Sokoto state law maker went on,
“I suggest, that our policemen be armed with Ak 47s and Ak 49s while heavy machine guns be provided for the Armed force.
“In addition, our local vigilant group called Yansakai be incorporated into our security architecture to enhance their efficiency.
Senator further advocated that rather than wait for the bandits to strike, the Army and other security agencies should embark on house to house search for bandits and to also go to forest.
He said
“The Armed Forces should not wait for these criminals, let them go house to house and arrest them or kill them
” Soldiers should also invade the Forest and bush in search of these criminals, he said.
