The invasion of the hallowed chambers of the Senate on Wednesday while the Distinguished were in session, was dramatic but not unexpected. We are lucky that the invaders were not out to physically attack the Senators, otherwise, there might have been some casualties amongst them more so when the hoodlums walked in the midst of the Senators and even came face to face with the presiding officer. Given the amount of time it took the thugs to force their way into the chambers, fighting those at the entrance, snatching the mace and making their get-away, the National Assembly (NASS)complex should have been locked down. That it was not, is symptomatic of the low level of security in the country. There were even no security cameras and video surveillance systems that captured the brigands arrival and escape from the Assembly complex. None in the streets to show their escape route.

The successful attack on the Senate, was no wake-up call; if legislators were to awaken, they would have done so over the years when state legislators were being physically attacked and even sacked by thugs. Thugs on August 1, 2017 invaded the Kogi State House of Assembly while in session, beat the legislators and locked up the complex without security forces lifting a finger not to talk about arresting even one of the over 100 hoodlums. The same legislators were physically attacked in their official quarters, beaten and forced out without the perpetuators who were identified, being brought to book. In the same state, five minority legislators were allowed to sack fifteen majority legislators without the any repercussion.

Far back November, 2006, five legislators out of the 24 in the Plateau State House of Assembly impeached then Governor Joshua Dariye, and the NASS which knew that the constitution provides for a minimum two thirds to impeach the governor, looked the other away. It did not think it was a sacrilegious offence for which it should have shut-down in protest or strived to bring perpetrators to book. That illegality like some others such as the January, 2006 impeachment of Governor Rasheed Ladoja, were fully bagged by the Federal Government. Once the NASS as an institution, condoned illegalities against legislators, invasion, and the misuse of State Assemblies to violate the constitution, they should expect that such brigandage can spread to its hallowed chambers.

So the real insecurity we face in the country is not the breach of the NASS security even if it be termed ‘treason’ the real insecurity is the almost daily massacre of Nigerians by highly mobile brigands who target our rural and semi-urban regions and food producing areas. From April 14-15, they massacred 32 Tiv villagers across the Southern Senatorial district of Nasarawa State. Despite an estimated 15,000 fleeing victims flooding the streets of the state capital, Lafia, the Police Command on the third day of the attacks still claimed ignorance. Yet the Police was expected to have prevented such massacres in the first place or be the first respondents... READ MORE:
https://atlanticpostng.com/perspective-snoring-while-the-roof-is-on-fire-by-owei-lakemfa/