"Nation is on fire": Nigerian lawmakers demand action on security crisis

By Camillus Eboh
ABUJA, April 27 (Reuters) - Nigeria's parliament called on
the presidency, armed forces and police to address the country's
mounting security crisis on Tuesday, with the lower house urging
President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency.
The resolutions come as a wave of violence and lawlessness
sweeps across Africa's largest economy. Security forces,
including the military deployed across most of Nigeria's states,
have shown little ability to stem the tide.
"The president should immediately declare a state of
emergency on security so as to fast track all measures to ensure
the restoration of peace in the country," said a resolution
passed by the lower house.
In the northwest, gunmen have kidnapped more than 700
schoolchildren since December, as militants pillage communities
in the region. In the northeast, the armed forces are still struggling in a
12-year war with Boko Haram and Islamic State's West Africa
branch. On Sunday, more than 30 soldiers died in an attack,
soldiers and a resident said. "The nation is on fire," said Smart Adeyemi, a senator in
Buhari's ruling party. "The president must rise to the occasion
and bring in people to save this country or else we will be
consumed. We cannot keep quiet any longer."
The senate upper house called for "massive recruitment" for
the military and police and procurement of new equipment for
security forces.
Meanwhile, the senate also resolved for its leadership to
meet Buhari to discuss the insecurity, and invite Nigeria's army
chief and other commanders and intelligence chiefs to speak on
the matter.
The military did not immediately respond to calls and
messages seeking comment. A presidency spokesman declined to
comment.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rivers state, in Nigeria's oil-producing
heartland, said it will ban people crossing its borders at night
due to insecurity.