Senate decries rising casualties from terror attacks on military formations

• Lawmakers seek probe of Monguno, Benisheikh attacks
• IGP, other security chiefs directed to arrest Benue invaders

The Senate yesterday decried rising casualties from renewed terror attacks on military formations in the Northeast.

It urged the Armed Forces to take urgent steps to halt such assaults.

The Red Chamber observed a minute of silence in honour of fallen personnel and affected civilians, directing the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and other Service Chiefs to conduct a comprehensive operational and logistical audit of the incursions in Monguno and Benisheikh.

The review, it said, would assess equipment adequacy, operational readiness and rules of engagement to address gaps exposed by the incidents.

The senators also urged the Armed Forces to strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law, improve training on civilian protection and investigate allegations of civilian harm to ensure accountability and prevent recurrence.

The Red Chamber urged residents of the affected communities to support security agencies with timely intelligence, stressing that local cooperation was critical to counter-insurgency efforts.

It also 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.

The Senate hailed troops of Operation Hadin Kai for their gallantry and urged the Federal Government to prioritise their welfare, equipment and combat motivation. They also called for intensified efforts to rescue 416 women, elderly persons and children reportedly held captive in Borno South since March 3.

The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Mohammed Tahir Monguno and co-sponsored by Mohammed Ali Ndume and Shehu Kaka Lawan after recent attacks on military bases in Monguno and Benisheikh, which claimed the lives of two officers and six soldiers, including Brig.-Gen. Oseni Braimah.

Leading the debate, Monguno described the incidents as “deliberate attempts by insurgents to undermine military operations, disrupt humanitarian and commercial access routes,” particularly along the Damaturu-Maiduguri corridor.

The senator said repeated assaults on Monguno, a major garrison town, and Benisheikh, a key transit hub, reflected evolving insurgent tactics and the need for urgent operational review.

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The Senator noted that despite the “immense sacrifices” of the Armed Forces, renewed attacks on military formations and civilian communities were eroding earlier gains.

The lawmakers warned that the trend posed “grave threats to national security, food security and the resettlement of internally displaced persons,” especially in Borno State, stressing that civilian protection was vital to sustaining public confidence in military operations.

Senator Abdul Ningi called for a temporary suspension of political activities in violence-prone states, 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.

He also urged stronger 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.

Senator Diket Plang described the attacks as attempts to destabilise public confidence, 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.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin acknowledged the scale of the security challenge but said it should 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.

He commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed 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 have been issued to ensure security forces receive needed support.

In a related resolution, the Senate directed the CDS, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and other security heads to intensify coordinated operations to apprehend perpetrators of attacks on Benue communities.

The chamber also called for the establishment of additional police area commands and military bases in vulnerable local government areas.

Raising the matter under Orders 41(2) and 42 as one of urgent national importance, Minority Leader Abba Moro drew attention to escalating attacks in Benue State, warning that the violence has disrupted farming and threatens national food security.

“The frequency and brutality of these attacks clearly indicate a worsening security situation and raise serious concerns about the adequacy of current security measures.

“There is an urgent need for a coordinated, sustained and intelligence-driven security response to restore peace, enable displaced persons to return home and safeguard livelihoods,” he said.

The Senate urged the Federal Government to immediately deploy additional military and police personnel to affected areas, mandating its Committees on Defence, Army, Police, and National Security and Intelligence to investigate the attacks and recommend lasting solutions.

It also directed NEMA and other relevant agencies to provide urgent humanitarian assistance, including relief materials and medical support to affected communities.

Lawmakers further called on the Federal Government to implement long-term solutions to farmer-herder conflicts through ranching policies, land-use reforms and structured conflict-resolution mechanisms, while urging the Benue State Government to strengthen protection of lives and property through improved support for security agencies.