The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Gbenga Daniel has disclosed that Nigeria’s military chiefs have resolved to adopt the use of artificial intelligence and other technological devices to apprehend those who attacked and killed soldiers in Okuoma community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.
Penpushing reports that Daniel, representing Ogun State at the National Assembly made this known to journalists on Wednesday after a closed-door meeting with the service chiefs to brief the lawmakers about the killing of military personnel and the steps the Nigerian military is taking to identify and arrest the perpetrators
The service chiefs appeared before the Senate Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Airforce, a meeting chaired by the immediate past Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, and lasted for over two hours.
Penpushing further reports that Daniel, pointed out that part of the resolutions at the meeting was that technological devices such as artificial intelligence would be used to track the hideout of the perpetrators.
‘It is a major affront and of course, we have to continue to appeal for patience and understanding. We also decided that technology has been very important and that the armed forces must begin to utilise technology and artificial intelligence to track down the location of some of these gangsters’, he said.
Penpushing also reports that the former Governor of Ogun State, added that both parties concluded that only people who are guilty of the offence will face the consequences and that the National Assembly will continue to support the military with additional funding.
‘By and large, we encourage them that they are doing a yeoman job protecting the assets of the nation. Without doubt, Delta State is very important as far as the custodians of the assets of our nation are concerned and whatever happens, we must make sure that only people who are guilty face the consequences’.
‘These are some of the things we spoke about. Of course, we also spoke about the need to continually support the armed forces with additional funding. We recognise that Mr President has done very well, more than any other leader in recent history, but because of the peculiar situation we find ourselves in, we just have to continue to appeal that within the framework of the limited resources we have to give more priority to ensuring we retrain and equip our armed forces. That is the summary of the meeting’, Daniel said.
Penpushing reports that Lawan, who chaired commented on the resolutions of the closed-door meeting, explaining to journalists that after the meeting the service chiefs briefed the lawmakers on how the incident happened, stressing that more meetings will be held between the lawmakers and the service chiefs in respect of the killing and other security challenges facing the country.
‘We have been briefed on what happened and this meeting was the first. We expect that we will also hold subsequent meetings when we have more information with respect to what has happened. But let me say this, the Senate particularly and the National Assembly stand solidly with our armed forces” he said.
Penpushing further reports that the former Senate president, who chairs the Committee on Defence, stated that the President took the best decision by directing the Nigerian military to identify the perpetrators.
‘We will continue to support our armed forces and I want to also assure Mr President that he took the right step when he gave that directive to our armed forces to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous and horrific crime by killing our officers and men in Okuoma’, he said.
‘There is no investment that an administration can do better than investing in the armed forces and other security agencies for them to secure us and our properties. I believe that this is what every Nigerian wants and that is what every Nigerian needs – secured lives, secured environment for businesses and other pursuit of life’, he added.
‘So we have closed today but we hope that pretty soon we will convene again for us to have more information and then report back to the Senate whatever it is that we are able to gather as a report’,Lawan stated
‘Of course, the military will not spend any time without looking for those that have carried out those murders. Therefore, we are hoping that pretty soon they will be able to apprehend them and of course the law should take its full course,” he emphasised.
Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that 17 soldiers, including four officers, were killed in Okuama when they were deployed to restore peace between the community and a neighbouring Okoloba in Delta State
FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email penpushing@yahoo.com
