• ‘20 soldiers still missing after Monday’s assault on military in Borno’
• Diaspora group urges Tinubu to sack service chiefs over rising insecurity
Amid escalating insecurity across the country, experts and stakeholders have urged the Senate to abandon its proposed two-day national security summit, calling instead for decisive action to address the crisis. They also called on President Bola Tinubu to rejig his security team citing the military’s “embarrassing helplessness” in tackling the growing threat.
The experts argued that the time for mere discussions has passed, emphasising the need to implement resolutions from past summits and conduct a thorough audit of military assets acquired for national defence.
A 2023 report by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) revealed that only 15 per cent of policy recommendations from legislative-led security conferences since 2011 have been implemented. The rest were either ignored, poorly coordinated with the executive, or overtaken by events.
Meanwhile, sources confirmed yesterday that several soldiers remain unaccounted for following an attack by Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on a military formation in Marte town, Borno State.
A security source revealed that many soldiers were either abducted or wounded during the assault. “This morning, about 20 soldiers are still missing; they are yet to return after yesterday’s (Monday) sad incident, but we are hopeful they are alive,” the source said.
Another source urged the military to mobilise resources urgently to confront the insurgents. “We are experiencing the second comeback of the insurgency; they are still in control of the base, and the armed forces should, as a matter of urgency, restore normalcy in the affected communities.”
Also, troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters, successfully repelled a deadly attack on Dikwa, a local council in Borno State, yesterday.
A CJTF member, speaking anonymously, said that terrorists had used two drones for surveillance before launching the attack on a military outpost around 1:00 a.m.
“The attack lasted for about one hour, with heavy resistance from the Nigerian Army and CJTF. They may have followed our troops who retreated from the unfortunate event that happened in Marte, but this time our military responded beautifully and secured our territory,” the source said.
Recently, the Senate, following a motion moved by Ondo South representative Jimoh Ibrahim, resolved to convene a two-day summit aimed at addressing insecurity issues such as banditry, mass killings, and abductions. The resolution came after the Senate expressed dismay at the violence and bloodshed in parts of the country, including Zamfara, Plateau, and Benue States.
However, investigations by The Guardian revealed that most stakeholders and security experts agree that further discussions on security are unnecessary. They argue that the Senate’s continued focus on summits is misplaced.
Past legislative efforts have included the 7th Senate’s 2012 National Conference on Security and Peace and security summits by the 8th and 9th Senate plenaries in 2018 and 2021, respectively. Despite these efforts, experts note that the failure to implement recommendations remains a persistent issue, fuelling scepticism over the value of future summits.
A former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, contended that “the effectiveness of these summits is severely undermined by the lack of commitment from the executive arm to act on their outcomes. The success of any summit lies in transforming dialogue into law and ensuring follow-through.”
A security expert, Christopher Oji, who also strongly criticised the Senate’s plan to convene another summit on Nigeria’s security challenges, described the proposal as a repetitive and diversionary move that offers no new solutions.
While accusing the Senate of recycling discussions without implementing previously proposed solutions, Oji asserted: “The Senate held such a summit in the past. All they need to do is revisit their archives and present those solutions to the Federal Government.
“They would be deceiving themselves to say that they haven’t discussed this issue. What more can they possibly talk about that hasn’t already been debated on the floor of the House?”
He noted that hosting another summit is a waste of public funds and a mere smokescreen to create the illusion of action, adding, “If they now claim they don’t know what the problems are, then they are not qualified to be in that house. Every layman on the street knows Nigeria’s security problems and possible solutions.
“Instead of spending time and resources on yet another summit, lawmakers should engage credible civil society voices. Let them invite two human rights activists or journalists to lecture them for an hour. That might help,” Oji added.
Also, a Certified Protection Officer, Frank Oshanugor, criticised the idea of another security summit, saying the Senate ought to align itself with the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and shelve such a gathering.
According to Oshanugor, repeated summits have yielded no tangible improvements in the country’s security landscape, pointing instead to the failure of Nigeria’s political class to tackle the underlying socioeconomic issues driving criminality.
He argued that insecurity in Nigeria is deeply rooted in systemic neglect, widespread unemployment, and the lavish lifestyles of public officials, wondering: “How would anyone expect gunmen, many of whom are educated kidnappers, to drop their weapons when there are no reasonable means of livelihood?”
Decrying the impact of Nigeria’s growing inequality, Oshanugor highlighted the contrast between jobless graduates and high-ranking officials with massive personal fortunes, agonising that “this is a country where a university graduate cannot secure employment, yet one government official at NNPC has N80 billion in his personal account.”
He described legislators’ love for excessive perks and allowances as insensitive, citing recent reports that each member of the National Assembly received SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) worth about N150 million and other entitlements.
To address insecurity, the protection expert urged politicians to abandon ostentatious lifestyles and redirect public funds toward creating job opportunities for Nigerian youth, even as he advocated for strict anti-corruption measures, including legislation that would impose the death penalty on public officials convicted of embezzling public funds .
He stated: “The Senate should focus on the jobless Nigerians and think out quick ways of providing employment. That’s how to reduce the number of those with the intent to enlist in criminal gangs.”
Security experts like Prince Cajethan Nnadi and Cyril Obosi say the problem isn’t summits but a lack of follow-through.
“We’ve had enough talk shops,” said Nnadi. “Without a law-backed mechanism to implement resolutions, the summit is just another round of political theatre.”
Obosi went further, calling for a “forensic audit of defence spending” instead of another conference. “We know the problems. What we lack is accountability. Why are military-grade weapons ending up in insurgents’ hands?”
For his part, Ebubeagu Felix Okafor of the APC Coalition for Peace and Conflict Resolution put it bluntly: “The 2014 Confab was rich in dialogue but barren in results. We don’t need more rhetoric. We need political will.”
RELATEDLY, the Congress for the Defence of Citizens (CDC), a London-based civil society group, called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and all other service chiefs, citing the military’s “embarrassing helplessness” in the face of growing insecurity across the country.
In a statement issued yesterday and signed by the CDC Global Convener, Prince Ugo, the group expressed outrage over the escalating lawlessness in Nigeria, particularly in the North-East, where terrorists are now abducting soldiers. The CDC warned that unless Tinubu undertakes a complete overhaul of the military leadership, Nigeria risks further descent into chaos.
The statement read, “What we are seeing is beyond failure; it is total collapse. The military is no longer able to defend even itself. Just recently, billions of naira worth of weapons were seized by terrorists. And now, they have kidnapped our soldiers, taking them into hiding in Marte, Borno State.”
The CDC also condemned the recent attacks on military personnel, particularly in Borno, where terrorists have captured and killed soldiers. “We are horrified that Nigerian soldiers—those meant to protect us—are now being captured and killed by terrorists in Borno,” the group said.
“If the military cannot defend its own, what hope is there for ordinary Nigerians?” the statement added.
The group urged President Tinubu to act swiftly, stating that “the honeymoon is over” for the current military leadership. It called for the immediate removal of the Chief of Defence Staff and all service chiefs, warning that failure to do so would be a “betrayal of public trust” and send a dangerous message about the toleration of mediocrity and impunity.
The CDC also condemned the military’s “reactionary and scattered” responses to attacks on civilian communities and military infrastructure, claiming that the lack of strategy has emboldened terrorists. “Our soldiers are no longer seen as symbols of safety. Instead, they are now victims—overwhelmed, outgunned, and outmanoeuvred,” the group stated.
The CDC announced that it is consulting with Nigerian diaspora communities and international rights organisations to raise global awareness of the country’s worsening security situation.
Senate calls for military redeployment to Borno, Yobe over B’Haram resurgence
The Senate yesterday called on the military to urgently redeploy personnel and advanced equipment to Borno and Yobe states, following a resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in the areas.
The resolution was prompted by renewed insurgent attacks in the North-East region, including the killing of over a dozen soldiers in Marte town on Monday and a subsequent assault early yesterday on Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai Local Council.
In a motion raised by Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, lawmakers noted that while two-thirds of the local councils in Borno were once under Boko Haram control, collaborative efforts between the Nigerian military and the civilian joint task force had successfully reclaimed the territories.
However, the restored peace led to a relocation of the tactical command to the North-West, where the military has been combating kidnapping and banditry.
Expressing concern over the militants’ evolving tactics, Munguno highlighted the use of modern technologies by the group, including drones, and an increase in the deployment of improvised explosive devices, which have led to high civilian and military casualties, disrupting transportation networks.
The Senate then resolved to urge the military high command to swiftly redeploy sufficient troops to the North-East and ensure they are adequately equipped with modern technology to effectively combat the renewed threat. The Senate also mandated the army and air force committees to monitor and ensure compliance with this directive.
Also, Monguno restated calls for the convening of an emergency national security summit following the surge in Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks. He said, “Many soldiers were killed with looting of arms and ammunition without confrontation. Let me use this opportunity to call on all and sundry to support the convention of a National Security Summit, considering the fact that the renewed attacks seem to be going out of hand.”
Zulum condemns B’Haram, ISWAP attacks, reaffirms commitment to security efforts
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, condemned the recent spate of attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in various parts of the state, including Maiduguri-Damboa Road, Marte, Chibok, Gwoza, Kala Balge, and other affected communities.
Zulum expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the families of all victims affected by the attacks, including an improvised explosive device (IED) attack along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road.
The recent explosion, which occurred on Monday, claimed the lives of two staff members of the Damboa Local Education Authority who were en route to Maiduguri to sit for the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) examination.
Several members of the Armed Forces and innocent civilians also lost their lives in the recent wave of violence. In a statement by his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, the governor reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to working closely with the Federal Government, military, and other security agencies to contain the security challenges.
“These acts of terror are deeply condemnable. The recent tragic loss of our education staff, gallant troops, and innocent civilians is a painful reminder of the challenges we continue to face,” Zulum stated.
He added: “I am more determined than ever to support the military, security agencies, and our volunteer forces in the fight to end terrorism and insurgency in our state.”
The governor recalled his recent visit to Gwoza, where he engaged with military personnel and the Izge community, as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce resilience and protect lives and property.
“The recent surge in attacks will not deter our resolve to tackle the scourge of the 16-year-long insurgency. I urge the people of Borno to remain resilient and prayerful. This is a partial eclipse and we shall overcome it, Insha Allah,” the governor assured.
Zulum concluded by extending his thoughts and prayers to the families of the fallen heroes, innocent civilians, and all citizens of Borno State.
