By AbdulGaneey Balogun
The Senate on Wednesday expressed sadness over the officers and soldiers killed by suspected terrorists in a deadly attack in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, as lawmakers observed a minute of silence in their honour.
The upper legislative chamber also urged the Armed Forces to intensify intelligence gathering, surveillance operations, and logistics support to strengthen ongoing efforts aimed at ending insurgency in the country.
This followed a motion moved during plenary under a matter of urgent national importance by Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), who informed the Senate that suspected insurgents launched a coordinated attack in the early hours of March 9, targeting troops stationed in Kukawa.
According to Monguno, the attackers advanced from several directions, engaging soldiers in a prolonged battle that lasted nearly 24 hours, but the troops resisted bravely.
The lawmaker lamented the death of Lt. Col. Umar Farouk, describing him as a key figure who helped restore stability to Kukawa after insurgents once ransacked the town.
“Lt. Col. Farouk played a pivotal role in facilitating the return of displaced residents,” he said, adding that several military vehicles were destroyed and weapons looted during the assault. He described the attack as part of renewed insurgent offensives in the region.
Monguno noted that the incident occurred despite ongoing counter-insurgency operations under Operation Hadin Kai aimed at dismantling extremist networks in the North-East.
He further disclosed that another community, Doro, also in Kukawa Local Government Area, was attacked by insurgents on Wednesday morning, resulting in the death of one soldier.
“Even this morning, as I came to present this motion, I received reports of another attack,” Monguno said.
He, however, commended the courage and sacrifice of officers and soldiers defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protecting communities from insurgent attacks.
“We salute their bravery, determination, and zeal. Their efforts have helped reclaim territories once firmly controlled by Boko Haram insurgents,” Monguno said.
Seconding the motion, Senator Shehu Lawan (APC, Borno Central) said the renewed resurgence of insurgency in Borno had reached an alarming level and required urgent attention.
He commended the military for remaining steadfast in the fight against insurgency.
“They have not abdicated their responsibility. They stood firm to fight this insurgency to ensure that our people can sleep with both eyes closed,” he said, noting that about three commanding officers had been lost within a few days.
The Senate consequently commended troops of Operation Hadin Kai for their resilience and commitment to safeguarding communities across Nigeria’s troubled North-East region.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was doing his best to address the security challenges facing the country.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.