Reps Move Against ‘Recurring Leakage’ Of Classified Documents In Nigeria

The House of Representatives has warned that the disclosure of sensitive security information to the public is an act of sabotage that frustrates the fight against insecurity in the country.

It therefore directed its committee on national security and intelligence to investigate the “leakage of classified security documents to the public”.

Naija News reports that the lower legislative chambers reached this resolution on Thursday after adopting a motion sponsored by Samuel Adejare, a lawmaker from Lagos state.

Speaking on the floor of the House on Thursday, Adejare said the “recurring incidents of leakage of classified security documents” to the public through various platforms jeopardise the “fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in the country”.

He said the federal government has made efforts in tackling insecurity, but the leakage of classified security documents and other “acts of sabotage is causing failure of intelligence gathering, misunderstanding and lack of cohesion among operatives involved in different operations”.

“The unfortunate situation is enabling other acts of crimes and criminalities such as jailbreaks, mass abductions, invasion of farms and animal rustling.

“If such acts of sabotage are left unchecked, they may pose great risks to the lives of security personnel and ultimately imperil the country,” Adejare said.

The House Committee was consequently given two weeks to carry out an investigation into the leakage of security documents and report its findings to the Reps.