Senate orders urgent Military, Police reinforcement as insecurity persist

Senate orders urgent Military, Police reinforcement as insecurity persist

Amid escalating violence in Katsina State, the Senate has adopted a resolution calling for the immediate reinforcement of military and police presence following coordinated bandit attacks that claimed no fewer than 35 lives within a 24-hour period, largely across the Funtua Zone.

The decision came after lawmakers deliberated on a motion of urgent public importance brought under Order 42 by Senator Dandutse Mohammed, representing Katsina South.

The motion, which highlighted the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the state, received overwhelming support and was admitted for debate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary.

In presenting the motion, Senator Dandutse recounted a recent ambush on operatives of the Nigerian Police Mobile Force in Guga, Bako Local Government Area within Katsina metropolis.

He told the chamber that three policemen were killed in the attack, while two others sustained critical injuries.

He further revealed that widespread assaults carried out across several local government areas in the Funtua Zone resulted in at least 35 fatalities in under 24 hours.

According to him, 24 people were killed in Faskari Local Government Area, eight in Bakori, two in Funtua Local Government Area, and one in Kankara Local Government Area.

Beyond the human toll, the senator warned of the broader economic consequences of the violence, noting that persistent insecurity had rendered more than 50,000 farmlands uncultivated, threatening food security, agricultural output, and the livelihoods of rural residents.

Recalling previous engagements with the Federal Government, Senator Dandutse said the Katsina State Governor, alongside traditional leaders from the Funtua Zone, had earlier met President Bola Tinubu to seek urgent intervention over the crisis.

“During the visit, the President pledged to establish a military barrack in Malumfashi to secure the zone,” he said.

Despite this assurance, the lawmaker lamented that criminal groups continued to exploit porous routes linking Katsina to neighbouring states.

He specifically mentioned the Zamachi–Kanduse and Magami–Asuwa corridors in Kaduna State, Power Hill in Kankara, as well as routes connecting the state to Zamfara.

He cautioned that failure to act decisively could lead to mass displacement, the collapse of rural economies, and lasting psychological trauma among affected communities.

While calling on residents of Katsina and other states to remain vigilant and united, he also urged them to resist internal collaborators who aid criminal activities.

The senator, however, commended President Tinubu and security agencies for steps already taken, stressing the need for sustained and coordinated operations until criminal networks are dismantled.

As part of its resolutions, the Senate urged the President to fulfil his commitment to establishing a military barrack in the Funtua Zone.

It also directed the Inspector-General of Police to equip the newly created police squadron in the area with at least three Armoured Personnel Carriers.

In addition, lawmakers called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide immediate relief to victims and affected communities.

The chamber observed a one-minute silence in honour of those killed in the attacks.

Seconding the motion, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibril disclosed that the Federal Government had already instructed the military to intensify operations in Katsina, particularly within the Funtua axis.

While commending the armed forces and the Katsina State Government for their efforts, he underscored the need for increased troop deployment, improved technology, and firmer action.

“The military is doing well, the governor is doing well, but we need to do more. This is a very fertile agricultural area that can feed the nation. We cannot allow bandits to continue killing people daily,” Barau said.

Other senators echoed similar concerns.

Senator Tahir Monguno described the motion as timely, stressing that ensuring security remained the foremost responsibility of government and warning that insecurity in Katsina was already undermining national food security.

He urged swift implementation of plans to establish a military formation in the area.

Senator Titus Zam expressed sympathy for the people of Katsina, noting that although military operations had curbed violence in parts of Benue State, recent attacks had occurred in Kwande Local Government Area.

He called for greater firepower and faster military responses nationwide.

For his part, Senator Ahmed Wadada cautioned against negotiating with bandits, describing such approaches as counterproductive.

He emphasised intelligence gathering and encouraged communities to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.

In his concluding remarks, Senate President Akpabio acknowledged the anger and frustration among lawmakers over the persistent insecurity across the country.

He assured the chamber that the National Assembly would prioritise increased military funding in the 2026 budget.

Akpabio noted that Nigeria’s vast geographical spread made it unrealistic to deploy troops to every community, advocating instead for greater reliance on modern surveillance tools, including advanced drones, to secure difficult terrains.

He also warned against internal collaboration with criminal groups, stressing that intelligence leaks from within communities often compromise security operations.

He assured senators that the resolutions adopted would be actively followed up with the executive arm, not only to secure approvals but also to ensure timely release of funds, expressing optimism that sustained and coordinated efforts would eventually bring an end to banditry.