The Nigerian Senate has issued a scathing condemnation of the recent terrorist attacks in Niger State, where at least 56 citizens were killed and scores of women and children were abducted. During an emergency session on Tuesday, lawmakers described the massacre in Konkoso and Pissa villages as an “unacceptable” assault on national stability.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Sani Musa (Niger East). Senator Musa informed the chamber that the affected communities, located near strategic forest corridors, have become exploited transit points for cross-border criminal operations.
He warned that the escalating violence in the North-Central region is no longer just a local crisis, but a direct threat to:
National Food Security: Due to the displacement of rural farming communities.
Local Economies: Resulting from the destabilization of trade and agriculture.
Humanitarian Welfare: Following the traumatizing abduction of women and children.
While the Senate commended President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies for their ongoing counterterrorism sacrifices, Senator Musa highlighted critical vulnerabilities. He noted that repeated assaults on remote areas reveal significant gaps in:
Intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination.
Rapid response capabilities.
Sustained territorial presence in vulnerable corridors.
Seconding the motion, Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno raised alarms over fiscal bottlenecks hindering the military. He revealed that during current budget defense sessions, it was discovered that some security agencies had received zero capital budget releases, stalling the procurement of essential equipment.
“In line with the President’s declaration of a state of emergency on security, prominence must be given to security agencies in our fiscal priorities,” Monguno stated.
Following a minute of silence for the deceased, the Senate officially resolved to:
Deploy Reinforcements: Demand the immediate dispatch of additional security personnel to the affected Local Government Areas in Niger State.
Conduct a Joint Assessment: Mandate the Committees on Defence, Army, Air Force, Police Affairs, and National Security to investigate the breach and report back within four weeks.
Modernize Frameworks: Pursue structural reforms to transition Nigeria’s security architecture into a more proactive, technology-driven force.
The Senate extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the Government of Niger State.
