The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, began investigation into the 1 billion dollar appropriated for procurement of arms and equipment in the fight against Boko Haram in the North East Nigeria.

The lawmakers also demanded that the Nigerian Army should, after due consultations with families of soldiers killed in the Nov. 18, insurgents’ attack in Metele village in Borno, release all their names.

The resolution was sequel to a motion by Rep Chukwuka Onyema (PDP-Anambra) at the plenary presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara in Abuja, NAN reports.

Moving the motion, Onyema, who is the Deputy Minority Leader, noted that many Nigerian soldiers of the 157 battalion were massacred by Boko Haram insurgents, who now called themselves Islamic State West Africa, in Metele in Borno State.

According to him, the initial figures of the casualty put the death toll at 44 but as more details emerged, it is now confirmed that many more soldiers and officers were killed together with their commanding officer, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Sakaba, while others are still missing.

“The House notes that according to reports, the insurgents carted away large consignment of weapons from the Melete army base which security experts say would embolden them and pose great danger.

“The House observed that while the news of the attack and death toll continued to increase, neither the President nor the Minister of Defense or the army authorities said anything about the report as there was silence for more than five days.

“The House notes that the President and C-In-C finally broke his silence six days after the attack in a statement issued on his behalf,” he said.

The lawmaker said it was unfortunate that in the last one year, no fewer than 600 Nigerian soldiers were killed by insurgents, mostly in Borno State around the fringes of the Lake Chad.

He enumerated instances of attacks launched by Boko Haram against Nigerian soldiers within the year under review.

Onyema, who expressed regret that while the executive continued to insist that the insurgents had been technically defeated, he said they seemed to be waxing stronger on a daily basis.

“The House recalls that twice in three years, the Commander-In-Chief gave directives to service chiefs to permanently relocate to the Theatre Command Centre in Maiduguri until Boko Haram is defeated,” he said.

He said it was disheartening that with the recent happenings in the North, all the successes and gains made against the insurgents had been reversed.

Contributing, Rep Nnenna Ukeje (PDP-Abia) said it was high time Nigeria began to change tactics in order to checkmate the audacity of the insurgents.

She urged the Federal Government to take a cue from Pakistan and review the curriculum of its military.

Rep Aminu Shagari (PDP-Sokoto), who queried how the recently appropriated money was used, described the attack as sad.

Rep Beni Lar (PDP-Plateau) called for the sack of the service chiefs.

On his part, Rep Idris Ease (APC-Plateau) called on the House to treat the matter dispassionately and not to be affected by political sentiment.

Rep Rimande Shawulu (PDP-Taraba) recalled that last year, there were reports that about 6, 000 members of the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS) found their ways to the sub-Saharan Africa.

The Speaker, Mr Dogara, after over an hour deliberation on the motion, described the development as an eye-opener.

He said it was time the leadership in the country began to take responsibility and not to apportion blame.

When the motion was out on a voice vote by the speaker, the lawmakers unanimously adopted it.

An ad hoc committee to investigate all funds appropriated for utilisation by the Armed Forces for the fight against insurgency was set up by the House.

The committee was also charged to look into the operational lapses that led to the killings of the soldiers.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/11/27/boko-haram-reps-probe-1bn-arms-procured-buhari-govt-procured-demand-names-of-dead-soldiers/

1bn gone and the lifeless dullard claims to be fighting corruption. Jail awaits him when Atiku takes over next year.

super story.. as if no be all of una chop am together.. who una dey fool?...legislooters and senators are as corrupt if not more corrupt than fg

babyfaceafrica:
super story.. as if no be all of una chop am together.. who una dey fool?...legislooters and senators are as corrupt if not more corrupt than fg

Hello? Are you sleeping? How did money appropriated by the Executive get chopped by or with the NASS? Are they part of the Army or security agencies? Call a spade by its name and stop all that tongue-in-cheek blame game.

The FG has messed up fair n square as it always has since the advent of this lifeless cadaver in office you APC zombies voted into power. If the NASS had refused to approve the release of this money the insults they would have received would have been out of this world!

Jubrin

This one Na another matter oh
Buratai must go in

Seriously, this probe is long overdue. We can't be sacrificing people's children, fathers, brothers, husbands, uncles etc all in the name of fighting insurgency when its clear they don't have a fighting chance.

Its like buying two guns for the army, and then giving boko haram 5 guns through the back door...so much vested interests.

What do I know sef.

uhmmmmmmm

Probe if you want but nothing will come out from it as the $1B counter insurgency funds have already been embezzled.

The only good service the NASS should have long done for Nigeria is to impeach the useless and lifeless man Nigeria have today as president.

The money was used in the procurement of Marathon booths for the soldiers so don't come here and say nonsense like it was embezzled...I mean do you think all the soldiers started running away from boko boys by magic?




Marathon Soldiers

Have anyone blame dasuki today

Going, going, 1billions dollars gone. Weapons we no see. This is the most wicked regime ever