* Saraki 


 By Steve Oni, Ilorin

 The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has called for the general improvement on the security
infrastructure of the country.

 Saraki made the call in Offa , Offa local government area of
Kwara state on Saturday when he paid a condolence visit to the Olofa of Offa, Oba
Muftau Gbadamosi Esuwoye on the recent bank robbery incident in the town.

 Saraki added that Nigeria’s security challenges are as a result of the country’s inadequate response to security.

 Armed robbers numbering about 15 had last Thursday attacked five banks and
police station in Offa, killing 17  people including nine policemen in the process.

 He said: "All the issues had to do with how we will improve on our security infrastructure. It is clear that we are not responding adequately to this. That is why we organized a security summit sometime ago to address the issue and to work close with the executive and see how we can find solution to the security problems in the country.

 “We on the legislative arm are ready to come up with the real design to improve on the security challenges, whether it is the human resources, equipment, whether it has to do with funding and legislation. There is also the issue of the actual structure of the police.

 “This issue requires a very radical and serious minded approach. Unless we address this we will continue to have this kind of scenario where a bunch of criminals will hold a town for two hours and carry out this mayhem. There is no society that will really allow this kind of thing to happen.

 “We condole with the families of both the civilians and the policemen that died during the incident. In a place like Offa that is very vibrant in commerce, we must address security challenge so that people can continue to carry out their normal activities.

 “The police must see this as an institutional issue. It is not
personal. On our part as legislators we are ready to do anything that will empower them."

 On the question of inviting the military for assistance, the Senate President said “there is no society that delegates the responsibilities of the police to that of the military. Because it also has its own fallback, he number of the military is very thin. They are in most of the states of the federation. This makes it difficult for them to protect the territorial integrity of the country.”