The Nigerian Senate has called on the Armed Forces to immediately deploy additional troops and advanced military equipment to Borno and Yobe States in response to a fresh wave of Boko Haram attacks in the region.
The resolution was passed on Monday following a motion presented by Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, who raised an alarm over the escalating insecurity in the North-East. He specifically cited the killing of more than a dozen soldiers in Marte, Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State, and a subsequent assault on Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai Local Government Area.
According to Monguno, the renewed attacks signal a disturbing resurgence of terrorist activities in areas that had previously enjoyed a period of relative calm. “Two-thirds of Borno’s local government areas were once under Boko Haram control,” he said, “but due to the coordinated efforts of the military and the Civilian Joint Task Force, most of these territories were reclaimed. The recent attacks highlight the need for the military to reassess its current deployment strategy and refocus on the North-East.”
In its resolution, the Senate urged the Nigerian military to not only deploy more personnel but also ensure that the troops are adequately equipped with modern and sophisticated weaponry to effectively counter the insurgents’ growing capabilities.
The upper chamber also directed its Committees on Army and Air Force to monitor the implementation of the resolution and ensure compliance by the relevant security agencies.
The renewed violence has raised concerns about the long-term security strategy in the North-East and the need for sustained military presence to protect civilians and secure reclaimed territories.