The Nigerian Senate has formally urged the Federal Government and the nation’s security agencies to launch an immediate rescue operation for 416 people currently held captive by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State. The resolution, passed during a plenary session on Wednesday, follows a harrowing video released by the terrorist group showing the victims and issuing a 72-hour ultimatum for their demands to be met.
The captives, consisting primarily of women, children, and the elderly, were reportedly abducted during recent raids on the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area. The motion, titled "Urgent Need to Curb Attacks on Military Formations by Boko Haram Insurgents," was sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno and co-sponsored by Senators Ali Ndume and Kaka Lawan. The lawmakers expressed deep concern over the resurgence of coordinated attacks on both civilian populations and military bases across Northern Borno.
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, emphasised the gravity of the situation during his contribution to the debate. He noted that the footage released by the insurgents creates a sense of national urgency that cannot be ignored. "We are talking about over 400 of our citizens, mostly the vulnerable, being paraded like spoils of war," Ndume stated. He urged the Presidency to direct the Service Chiefs to ensure that these Nigerians are returned home safely before the insurgents carry out their threats to disperse the victims.
The Senate also directed its attention to the rising frequency of attacks on military formations. Senator Tahir Monguno pointed out that recent strikes in areas like Monguno and Benisheikh suggest a tactical shift by the insurgents that requires a robust response. He argued that the loss of senior military personnel in these encounters sends a dangerous signal to the public and undermines the morale of the frontline troops.
In its final resolution, the Senate mandated the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs to conduct a comprehensive logistical and operational audit of military formations in the Northeast. This audit is intended to identify equipment gaps and improve the response time to insurgent movements. The lawmakers also called for enhanced community intelligence gathering to support Operation Hadin Kai in its mission to stabilise the Lake Chad region.
The lawmakers commended the bravery of the Nigerian Armed Forces but stressed that the current security architecture requires modernisation to effectively neutralise the evolving threat of Boko Haram and other extremist groups.