The Senate on Tuesday asked the military to urgently redeploy personnel and advanced equipment to Borno and Yobe states following a resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in the area.

This resolution followed renewed insurgent attacks in the North-East region, including the killing of over a dozen soldiers in Marte town of Monguno Local Government Area on Monday, May 12, and a subsequent assault early Tuesday on Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai LGA.

In a motion raised by the Senate chief whip, Tahir Munguno, lawmakers noted that while two-thirds of Borno State’s local government areas were once under Boko Haram control, collaborative efforts between the Nigerian military and civilian Joint Task Force had successfully reclaimed the territories.

The restored peace, however, had led to a relocation of tactical command to the North-West, where the military is combating kidnapping and banditry.

Expressing concern over the militants’ evolving tactics, Munguno highlighted the use of modern technologies by the group, including drones, and an increase in the deployment of improvised explosive devices, which have led to high civilian and military casualties, disrupting transportation networks.

The senate subsequently resolved to: urge the military high command to swiftly redeploy sufficient troops to the North-East and ensure they are adequately equipped with modern technology to effectively combat the renewed threat, as well as mandate the committees on the Army and Air Force to monitor and ensure compliance with this directive.

Zulum Condemns Attacks
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum has strongly condemned the recent spate of attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in various parts of the state.

Recently, the insurgents launched attacks on the Maiduguri-Damboa Road, Marte, Chibok, Gwoza, Kala Balge, among other communities.

Governor Zulum also expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the families of all victims including those affected by the tragic explosion of improvised explosive device (IED) along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, the Borno governor reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to working closely with the Federal Government, military, and other security agencies to contain the security challenges.

“These acts of terror are deeply condemnable. The recent tragic loss of our education staff, gallant troops, and innocent civilians is a painful reminder of the challenges we continue to face,” Governor Zulum stated.

“I am more determined than ever to support the military, security agencies, and our volunteer forces in the fight to end terrorism and insurgency in our state.”

The governor recalled his recent visit to Gwoza, where he engaged with military personnel and the Izge community, as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce resilience and ensure the protection of lives and property.

“The recent surge in attacks will not deter our resolve to tackle the scourge of the 16-year-long insurgency. I urge the people of Borno to remain resilient and prayerful. This is a partial eclipse — and we shall overcome it, Insha Allah,” Zulum assured.

He extended his thoughts and prayers to the families of the fallen troops, innocent civilians, and all citizens of Borno State during this difficult period.

The explosion, which occurred on May 12, claimed the lives of two staff members of the Damboa Local Education Authority who were on their way to Maiduguri to sit for the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) examination.

Several members of the armed forces and innocent civilians have also lost their lives in the recent wave of violent attacks.

The Nigerian Senate is set tp hold a national security Summit to address the current security charges headlong.

This was also done during the 8th and the 9th National Assembly , the Senate resolved to hold a two – day National Security Summit for lasting solutions to the myriad of problems of insecurity bedeviling the country .

Those to attend the planned National Security Summit shall include delegates from the Federal, States, and Local Governments as well as the Traditional Institutions to propose legitimate solutions to insecurity and its challenges in the country.

It also resolved that the Federal Government should use resolutions from the proposed summit to rejig the country’s security architecture through formulation and implementation of very proactive and pragmatic policies .

The resolutions were sequel to a motion sponsored for that effect by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim ( APC Ondo South) and co – sponsored by Senators Zam Titus , Senator Peter Onyeka Nwebonyli, Onyeka Peter, APC, Ebonyi North and Senator Ngwu Osita, PDP, Enugu West.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim in the motion titled : ” Urgent Need for a National Security Summit” said that high level of global insecurity is driven by events in Russia and Ukraine and compounded by tensions between the global north and global south which according to him ,
have worsened food insecurity and affected the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

He posited that the growing impact of the tariff war in America and the rising emphasis on balance of power by various countries, are reflected in the new international order, concerning immigration and the cancellation of visas by the new regimes, which has necessitated some countries to raise funds by selling citizenship, intensifying economic conflict, and undermining globalization, which the investment the global space has pursued over the last sixty years;

He further notes the significance of power, influence, and authority at the geo-centric level, as such, Nigeria must clarify its strategic engagement in the international arena and the roles of the Senate in advising the executive to help the government achieve substantial value for Nigeria and uphold its sovereignty, as the next world war may not even require the fanfare of militarism, but the i dible growing ic war is gaining ground with destructive innovation in security globally.

The Senate he added, is aware that recent events in our region have led to feelings of discomfort and insecurity, which has placed the past accomplishments of our security forces at risk even though, our military and its partners are striving to address these challenges, they do not have solutions to the global economic conflict or the effects of new American tariffs and tensions with China.

“As a result, insecurity across Nigeria has become pervasive, impacting on both urban and rural areas, where banditry, ransom kidnappings, and terrorism are pressing issues, across the country as well as other violent crimes”, he stressed .

According to him, the historical trajectory of political crises, such as the Kano riot of 1953, the Eastern Region constitutional crises of 1953, the census crises of 1962-63, and the Action Group crises of 1962 and 1967-70, the Federal Election of 1964, the Western Nigeria Election of 1965, the General Election of 1979, the executive versus legislative crises of 1981 in Kaduna, and the general election 1983, cannot be forgotten as the election approaches.

He explained further that National Security Summit was very necessary for expertise ideas to compliment President Bola Tinubu’s seriousness on the peace of Nigeria, saying “there is need for some fact-finding intelligence support for Mr. President’s efforts even of the fact that most military strategies and languages such as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, are no longer exclusive to the military.

“No country will allow its citizens to understand security by living with insecurity, therefore, the ideology of peace for all, as outlined in the executive policy leg of the Renewed Hope Agenda should be upheld and promoted.

See also External Debt: Buhari’s theory of servicing debt with scarce revenue destructive; I won’t sustain it: Tinubu “Can we continue to service external debts with 90% of our revenue?” Mr Tinubu asked. “It is a path to destruction. It is not sustainable.”
“To address the challenges highlighted above, it Is imperative that empirical fact-finding National Security Summit is organized by the Senate to assist in providing the requisite platform for exhaustive and far reaching deliberations on the way forward”, he said .

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede for appointment as Chief of Army Staff.

The confirmation today followed the consideration of reports by the Chairman of the sense committee on Army, Sen. Yar’ adua, Abdulaziz Musa (Katsina Central).

The committee’s recommendations were unanimously adopted by the upper chamber.

Lieutenant General Oluyede was appointed to act as the Chief of Army Staff following the illness and subsequent death of Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.