The Senate has raised fresh concerns over mounting casualties from renewed terror attacks, urging the armed forces to take urgent steps to halt assaults on military formations in the North-East.
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The chamber also condemned the attacks and observed a minute of silence in honour of fallen military personnel and affected civilians, while directing the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs to carry out a comprehensive operational and logistical audit of the incidents in Monguno and Benisheikh.
The lawmakers said the review should assess equipment adequacy, operational readiness and rules of engagement, with a view to addressing gaps exposed by the attacks.
They further urged the Armed Forces to strengthen adherence to international humanitarian law, improve training on civilian protection and thoroughly investigate any allegations of civilian harm with a view to ensuring accountability and preventing recurrence.
The lawmakers also called on residents of the affected communities to support the security agencies with timely intelligence, stressing that local cooperation remains critical to counter-insurgency efforts.
In addition, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to provide urgent relief to displaced persons and victims of attacks across Niger, Kwara, Borno and neighbouring states.
It commended troops of Operation Hadin Kai for their gallantry, while urging the Federal Government to prioritise their welfare, equipment and combat motivation. It also called for intensified efforts to rescue 416 women, elderly persons and children reportedly held in captivity in Borno South since March 3.
The resolutions followed a motion by Mohammed Tahir Monguno and co-sponsored by Mohammed Ali Ndume and Shehu Lawan Kaka after recent attacks on military bases in Monguno and Benisheikh, which lawmakers said resulted in the deaths of several officers and soldiers, including senior military personnel.
Leading the debate, Monguno said the incidents reflected a deliberate attempt by insurgents to undermine military operations and disrupt humanitarian and commercial access routes, particularly along the strategic Damaturu–Maiduguri corridor. He added that repeated assaults on Monguno, a major garrison town and Benisheikh, a key transit hub, underscore evolving insurgent tactics and the need for urgent operational review.
The Senate noted that the Nigerian Armed Forces had continued to make immense sacrifices in the counter-insurgency campaign, but warned that renewed attacks on both military facilities and civilian communities are eroding earlier gains.
Lawmakers expressed concern that the trend poses grave threats to national security, food security and the resettlement of internally displaced persons, particularly in Borno State, stressing that the protection of civilians remains central to sustaining public trust in the ongoing operations.
Contributing to the debate, Abdul Ningi advocated a temporary suspension of political activities in states experiencing persistent violence, including Borno, Plateau, Bauchi and Benue.
“We must, as a matter of urgency, consider suspending political activities in areas experiencing constant attacks until insecurity is contained,” he said.
Ningi also called for deeper legislative oversight of the war effort. “Whether funds have been released or ammunition procured, the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, must call those involved in this warfare to brief us on what is happening,” he added.
Also contributing, Diket Plang, described the attacks on military formations as part of a broader attempt to destabilise public confidence.
“This is a ploy to threaten and instil fear in the minds of Nigerians,” he said, citing recent violence in Plateau State, including the abduction of a University of Jos student travelling to Kaduna and attacks in Kanam Local Government Area.
Responding, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, acknowledged the scale of the security challenge but said it must be viewed within a wider regional context.
“This problem has a global dimension,” he said, noting that several West African countries were facing similar threats.
Barau, however, commended the administration of Bola Tinubu, assuring lawmakers that efforts were ongoing to strengthen military capacity.
“The President is working very hard at providing more funds and ammunition,” he said, adding that directives had been issued to ensure that everything that is needed is provided to security forces.
In a related development, the Senate has called on the Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police and other security heads to intensify coordinated operations to apprehend perpetrators of attacks on Benue communities and bring them to justice.
It also called for the establishment of additional security formations, including police area commands and military bases in vulnerable local government areas.
Standing on Order 41(2) and 42 of the Senate Standing Rules to raise the matter as urgent national importance, Minority Leader, Abba Moro, drew the attention of the Senate to the escalating wave of violent attacks in Benue State.
He decried attacks in Ankpa Local Government Area, saying they have created a climate of fear, disrupted agricultural activities and pose a direct threat to food security, not just in Benue State, but across Nigeria, considering that Benue remains the food basket of the nation.
Speaking further, he said: “The frequency and brutality of these attacks clearly indicate a worsening security situation and raise serious concerns about the adequacy of current security measures.
“Mr. President, the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property. Any failure in this regard erodes public confidence and weakens the legitimacy of the state.
“There is an urgent need for a coordinated, sustained and intelligence-driven security response to restore peace, enable displaced persons return to their ancestral homes and safeguard livelihoods.”
The Senate, therefore, urged the Federal Government to immediately deploy additional security personnel, including military and police forces to the affected areas.
It also mandated its Committees on Defence, Army, Police and National Security and Intelligence to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the attacks and recommend lasting solutions, while directing the NEMA and other relevant bodies to provide urgent humanitarian assistance, including relief materials and medical support to the affected communities.
Furthermore, the lawmakers urged the Federal Government to develop and implement long-term solutions to farmer-herder conflicts, including ranching policies, land use reforms and structured conflict resolution mechanisms.
While calling on the Benue State Government to fully discharge its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, the Senate demanded improved funding and logistics support for security agencies to enhance intelligence gathering, surveillance and rapid response capabilities.
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