The Senate has raised concerns over the infiltration of terrorists from Mali and Burkina Faso, operating under the name Lakurawa, into Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Niger states.
This development signals an international dimension to Nigeria’s security challenges, days after similar alarms were raised by the House of Representatives and the Arewa Consultative Forum.
In response, the Senate passed a motion sponsored by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North) and co-sponsored by Senators Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central) and Garba Musa Maidoki (PDP, Kebbi South), urging the military to enhance early warning mechanisms and maintain a strong presence in the affected areas. The Senate also recommended:
– Collaborating with communities to address security issues.
– Dispatching an assessment team to evaluate damages and provide relief to affected families.
– Revisiting and implementing past resolutions on terrorism.
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The Upper Chamber observed a minute of silence to honor the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Kebbi State, where over 20 lives were lost in Mera village on November 8, 2024.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) described the incursion as a significant threat, calling for decisive action. Former Sokoto Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South), highlighted that such invasions were not new, recalling similar incursions in 2018.
The Senate commended the military’s swift response, which has seen the dislodging of terrorists and the recovery of stolen livestock. However, they called for more robust strategies to prevent the spread of Lakurawa’s reign of terror .
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, confirmed the deaths of five soldiers in a Boko Haram/ISWAP ambush in Gubio Local Government Area, Borno State. In retaliation, troops neutralized 30 terrorists, with several escaping with injuries, according to Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations.
The DHQ reported that the military is reinforcing its presence in affected areas, ensuring security for displaced villagers returning to their communities.
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