SENATORS and security chiefs were locked in a six-hour meeting on Tuesday, in an effort to resolve the lingering insurgency crisis in the north-eastern part of the country.
The senators had invited the security chiefs to the meeting on Thursday last week, but it was aborted as a result of the commotion that engulfed the National Assembly complex.
Those who briefed the lawmakers included the Chief of Army Staff, Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu and the Director-General of the State Security Services, Ita Ekpeyong.
However, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, was absent at the briefing.
Sources at the meeting told the Nigerian Tribune that the security chiefs gave a graphic picture of the situation in the North East, adding that they also asked for the cooperation of the political class in ending the crisis.
Though the service chiefs refused to talk with newsmen, Senate spokesman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, told the media that the security chiefs asked for an extension of the state of emergency in the three frontline states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno, to enable them to operate effectively.
It was learnt that the senators were also largely in support of the continued presence of the military in the North-East.
“As of today, we have the briefing and we can assure Nigerians that the military is up to the task of dealing with this matter. The question of state of emergency was not on the table today and we are going to also wait until it is brought to the floor of the Senate before we discuss it.
“What the Senate did today was to separate the two questions. Of course, the military continues to insist they need the state of emergency to be able to conduct operations in a manner that will bring it to a quick resolution. When the Senate now takes the issue of the state of emergency, of course, you’ll be there, it will be discussed in open plenary…,” Abaribe said.
There was drama, however, as the senators refused to grant audience to a representative of the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, who had sent the Deputy Inspector General (Operations), Wakama Sotonye, to represent him at the sitting.
The senators rejected Sotonye and asked that Abba must appear in person.
Senate President, Davud Mark, was to later tell his colleagues that Abba would appear before the Senate today.
It was also learnt that the senators will, tomorrow, take a final position on the request for the extension of the state of emergency sent to them by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Though the state of emergency had expired last week Thursday, a source in the Senate said the lawmakers had resolved to explore the constitution to determine the way forward.
After the prolonged interaction between the security chiefs and the senators, the chamber was thrown open, with Senator Mark declaring that the lawmakers had a robust discussion with the security chiefs.
