The Senate urged the federal government on Wednesday to explore broad emergency measures, including the suspension of political activity in eight frontline states, as instability spreads across the country.
The call, which underlines the National Assembly’s rising worry about renewed insurgent offensives, came in response to a point of order brought by Bauchi Central legislator Abdul Ningi during plenary.
He said, “Mr. President, we cannot continue to think that because we are in Abuja, therefore this thing (insecurity) does not affect us.
“One of the things that we must do, and I want us to take this issue very seriously, is either to suspend all political activities across this country or look at the frontline states of Borno, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, and some parts of Kano.
“We need to suspend activities in these states until we are sufficiently certain that the insecurity challenges are over.
“This is because we are not dealing with this insecurity issue at all. And I am not blaming anybody. We cannot come here every time to lament.”
Ningi’s caution arises amid a resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East, including coordinated assaults on military installations and new threats against any forcible rescue efforts of abducted people.
In a similar resolution, the Upper Chamber urged the Federal Government to step up efforts to secure the release of 416 women, children, and the elderly who have been held captive by rebels in Borno State since March 30, 2026.
The resolution came after the deliberation of a motion headed “Urgent need to curb attacks on military formations by Boko Haram insurgents,” sponsored by Tahir Monguno and co-sponsored by Ali Ndume and Kaka Lawan.
Leading the debate on the motion, Monguno raised worry about recent coordinated attacks on military units in Monguno and Benisheikh, warning that the current wave of violence was undermining counter-insurgency accomplishments and constituted a severe threat to national security.
Ndume also expressed concern about the fate of the abducted victims, stating that insurgents had issued new threats to scatter them if immediate action was not taken.
He urged immediate action by both the National Assembly and the Presidency.
Also commenting, Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central) stated that the persistent targeting of military personnel was instilling terror throughout the country, warning that the deaths of senior officers and security operatives conveyed a hazardous signal about the situation of national security.
In its resolutions, the Senate “strongly condemned the continued attacks by Boko Haram on military formations” and held a minute of silence in memory of slain troops.
Lawmakers also requested that the Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs “conduct a comprehensive operational and logistical audit of the affected military formations to identify and address gaps in equipment and operational strategy.”
They also asked the Armed Forces to “increase adherence to rules of engagement and international humanitarian law” and to “thoroughly investigate allegations of civilian harm during military operations.”
The Senate urged local communities to provide security authorities with “credible and timely information,” while praising Operation Hadin Kai troops for their bravery.
The current fears stem from the publication of a film by a Boko Haram sect, Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad, purportedly showing dozens of abducted victims in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State.
In the video, the insurgents warn against any rescue attempts and threaten that failing to pay their demands within 72 hours will result in the victims being dispersed.
The victims were kidnapped after rebels stormed a military facility in Ngoshe in early March, allegedly burning operational vehicles, dispersing security personnel, and murdering an indeterminate number of individuals before taking many others hostage.
The developments exacerbated fear in impacted communities and increased calls for quick action to stem the tide of insurgency, which has lasted in the region for more than a decade despite ongoing military operations.
