Jonathan, Service chiefs assure Senators on abducted girls

Jonathan who met with a delegation of Senators led by Senate President David Mark on Wednesday night at the Presidential villa, Abuja said the security agencies were doing their best to free the girls.A source at the meeting told Daily Trust that all service chiefs and the National Security Adviser attended the meeting and “they […]

Jonathan who met with a delegation of Senators led by Senate President David Mark on Wednesday night at the Presidential villa, Abuja said the security agencies were doing their best to free the girls.
A source at the meeting told Daily Trust that all service chiefs and the National Security Adviser attended the meeting and “they also briefed us on the effort being made so far.”
The meeting was called at the instance of the Senate which on Tuesday passed a resolution expressing concern over failure of security agencies to rescue the girls since they were abducted in the night of April 14.
The lawmakers also sought a meeting with the President and all service chiefs to be briefed by them.
“At the meeting, the service chiefs complained of lack of funding and equipment which they said was hindering the fight against Boko Haram insurgents. They said the soldiers lack adequate motivation,” the source said.
“They pleaded with the Senators, especially those representing the restive areas to be availing them with information and not rush to the press,” a Senator who attended the meeting but did not want to be mentioned said.
At the commencement of the meeting, Senate President David Mark told Jonathan that the Senate was worried that not much was being done to rescue the girls more than two weeks after their abduction.
“The President appealed to all stakeholders to help fight insurgency especially to help free the girls,” a source said.
“The service chiefs also told us that in two to three weeks’ time, we will see drastic changes in their mode of operation as new tactics were being adopted to deal with the situation. So we may expect them to come up with superior fire power,” the Senator said.
Those that met with the President include Senators Barnabas Gemade, Mohammed Ali Ndume, Ahmad Zanna, Maina Ma’aji Lawan, Ahmad Lawan, Babafemi Ojudu, Alkali Jajare, Bello Tukur  and Mohammed Magoro.
Others were Senators Ehigie Uzamere, Mohammed Jibrilla  Bindo, Shola Adeyeye, Chris Anyanwu, Helen Esuene,  Enyinnaya Abaribe,  Emmanuel Bwacha and Nenadi Usman.