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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday called for urgent military action to confront the alarming resurgence of Boko Haram in the North-East, particularly in Borno and Yobe States. This followed the adoption of a motion put forth by senators representing the affected regions, highlighting a concerning uptick in insurgent activities.
The motion, presented by Senator Muhammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno), painted a disturbing picture of the evolving security situation.
While acknowledging the previous successes of the military and civilian Joint Task Force in reclaiming territories once held by Boko Haram, the Senate noted a worrying shift.
Following a period of relative calm, the relocation of military tactical command to address security challenges in the region appears to have created a vacuum exploited by the insurgents.
According to him, “Recent deadly attacks underscore the gravity of the situation. Just yesterday, a devastating assault in Marte town of Monguno Local Government Area resulted in the loss of over a dozen soldiers. This morning, the insurgents further demonstrated their renewed strength by attacking Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai Local Government Area, necessitating an immediate call for military reinforcement.”
Senator Monguno further voiced deep concern over the insurgents’ apparent adoption of more sophisticated tactics, including the deployment of drones for attacks and the increased use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in strategic locations.
“These advancements pose a significant threat to both civilian populations, including those recently resettled, and the mobility of security forces.
“We are witnessing a dangerous resurgence of Boko Haram,” Senator Monguno warned, emphasizing the need for a robust and technologically advanced military response to counter these evolving threats.
In response to this urgent situation, the Senate resolved to issue a strong directive to the military high command. Furthermore, the lawmakers called for the swift redeployment of a significant number of personnel to the Northeast, emphasizing the critical need for these forces to be equipped with modern technology to effectively combat the insurgents’ evolving tactics.
Consequently, the Senate mandated its Committee on Army and Air Force to rigorously oversee the military’s compliance with this directive, underscoring the seriousness with which the legislative body views this escalating security crisis.