The Senate on Wednesday called on the federal government to consider sweeping emergency steps, including suspending political activities in several frontline states, as insecurity worsens across parts of the country.
The position followed a point of order raised during plenary by the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, who warned that the escalating violence demands urgent and decisive action.
“Mr President, we cannot continue to think that because we are in Abuja, therefore this thing does not affect us,” Ningi said.
He urged authorities to consider drastic measures, particularly in the most affected states.
“One of the things that we must do is either to suspend all political activities across this country or look at the frontline states of Borno, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi and some parts of Kano,” he said.
“We need to suspend activities in these states until we are sufficiently certain that the insecurity challenges are over. This is because we are not dealing with this insecurity issue at all. We cannot come here every time to lament.”
The warning comes amid renewed attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East, including coordinated assaults on military formations and fresh threats over abducted civilians.
In a related resolution, the Senate urged the federal government to intensify efforts to secure the release of 416 women, children and elderly persons reportedly held hostage in Borno State since March 30, 2026.
The resolution followed consideration of a motion sponsored by Tahir Monguno and co-sponsored by Ali Ndume and Kaka Lawan.
Leading the debate, Monguno expressed concern over recent coordinated attacks on military formations in Monguno and Benisheikh, warning that the resurgence of violence was eroding gains made in counter-insurgency operations.
Ndume, in his contribution, raised concerns about the abducted victims, noting that insurgents had issued threats to disperse them if urgent action was not taken.
“We must act fast. The threats being issued make the situation more dangerous and require immediate intervention,” he said.
Also speaking, Diket Plang warned that persistent attacks on security personnel were heightening fear nationwide.
“The killing of senior officers and security operatives sends a very dangerous signal about the state of our national security,” he said.
In its resolutions, the Senate strongly condemned the continued attacks on military formations and observed a minute’s silence in honour of fallen troops.
Lawmakers also called on the Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs to carry out a comprehensive audit of affected formations to address gaps in equipment and operations.
They further urged the Armed Forces to strengthen compliance with rules of engagement and international humanitarian law, while investigating allegations of civilian harm during operations.
The Senate encouraged communities to support security agencies with timely intelligence and commended troops of Operation Hadin Kai for their efforts.
The renewed concerns follow the circulation of a video reportedly released by the Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad faction of Boko Haram, showing dozens of abducted victims in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
In the footage, the insurgents warned against rescue attempts and threatened to disperse the victims if their demands were not met within 72 hours.
The victims were abducted after an attack on a military base in Ngoshe in early March, during which insurgents reportedly destroyed equipment, overran the facility and took several people captive.
The development has heightened anxiety in affected communities and renewed calls for decisive measures to curb the insurgency, which has persisted in the region for over a decade.