The Nigerian Senate has demanded an immediate military surge in the North-East following the killing of 12 troops by Boko Haram fighters in Marte, Borno State.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, lawmakers also stressed the urgent need to modernise military equipment and intelligence tools to keep pace with the terrorists’ evolving tactics.
To ensure proper execution, the Senate assigned its Army and Air Force Committees the responsibility of following up on implementation.
The move follows a motion brought before the chamber by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), co-sponsored by other senators from Borno and Yobe States, under the title: “The Resurgence of Boko Haram in Borno and Yobe.”
In his address, Monguno recalled that years ago, most of Borno’s territories had fallen into insurgent control.
He praised the military and the Civilian Joint Task Force for liberating these areas, bringing back stability to both Borno and neighbouring Yobe.
However, he said the redeployment of military operations to the North-West, to tackle banditry and kidnapping, had left the North-East exposed.
Citing the deadly ambush in Marte on May 12, Monguno expressed worry over Boko Haram’s growing use of advanced technology, such as surveillance drones and IEDS, highlighting a dangerous shift in their operational capacity.
He insisted that restoring the full strength of military operations to the North-East, along with equipping personnel with modern technology, is critical to preventing further deterioration.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, conducted a voice vote in which the Senate adopted the motion’s two resolutions.