From Fred Itua, Abuja

SENATE, yesterday, mandated Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase and the Director- General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Mr. Lawal Musa Daura, to intensify efforts towards rescu­ing the 219 Chibok schoolgirls abducted on April 14, 2014.

The new order by the Senate was part of the outcome of a closed door session held with the heads of the two security agencies in the country.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who announced the decision, said lawmakers were worried about the whereabouts of the girls and efforts being put in place by the respective security agencies to rescue them.

Last Thursday, Senate summoned the National Se­curity Adviser (NSA), the IGP and service chiefs to brief it on efforts made, so far, towards rescuing the abducted girls.

Senator Dino Melaye, who moved the motion as part of activities marking second anniversary of the abduc­tion, had lamented their plight and that of their parents. He said the Federal Government cannot be said to have succeeded until the girls are rescued.

He said: “We cannot succeed as a government un­til those girls are released. Getting back the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls into the society is important and a must for our security agencies.

Other senators, who supported the motion, had also called on the Federal Government to go beyond the yearly ritual of celebrating the anniversary of the abduction. They called on the government to explore every available avenue to ensure that the girls are res­cued.

Adopting the prayers of the motion, the senate had mandated security agencies to do “everything humanly possible to ensure the release of the girls.”

They unanimously resolved that the NSA and all the service chiefs be invited to brief the Senate in a closed door session on their efforts, so far, at recovering the abducted girls. No date was given on when the service chiefs would appear in the Red Chamber.

The senate had observed a one-minute silence in honour of parents of the abducted girls that have died. Both Christian and Islamic prayers were offered for the safe return of the girls.