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Sola Shittu

Nigeria’s worsening security crisis dominated proceedings in the Senate on Wednesday as lawmakers expressed outrage over fresh attacks in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger States, warning that the country is “at war” and accusing security agencies of “unexplainable failures” that are costing lives and undermining national stability.

The senators, who engaged in a heated and emotional debate, demanded answers over reports that soldiers were withdrawn from a primary school in Kwara State where dozens of children had been taking refuge—only for bandits to invade the community minutes later, abducting residents and terrorising families.

The controversy emerged after Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe drew attention to what he described as a suspicious withdrawal of troops from Maga Primary School barely half an hour before gunmen stormed the area at about 4:30 a.m.

Senators insisted that Nigerians deserve to know who gave the order, accusing unnamed military authorities of possible complicity or negligence.

“The world wants to know. Nigerians want to know. We who are directly affected want to know,” one senator declared. “If we don’t get to the bottom of this, this incident will keep repeating.”

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio stated that: “It is still a national secret who commanded that those men be withdrawn. Nigerians should know the name, and the person must be brought to justice under the Terrorism Act.”

The debate follows a motion of public importance by the Deputy Senate Leader, Lola Ashiru, calling the attention of the Senate to the kidnapping incidents in his senatorial district at Kwara South.

The lawmaker reported that in the same Kwara community, gunmen returned late Monday night, kidnapping 11 people including a pregnant woman.

The senator narrated that residents had earlier been taught escape and survival skills by security officers, yet protection was withdrawn at the most critical moment.

Several senators warned that the frequency, coordination, and brazenness of attacks across the North show that the country is facing a war-like situation.

“Nigeria is at war,” a senator from the North-West said. “These terrorists—Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits—are not Nigerians. They are coming into this country to disrupt our peace. This is external aggression.”

Another added that the pattern of violence and intelligence reports suggest international conspiracy, claiming that insurgents are trying to provoke foreign military intervention.

The Senate President Godswill Akpabio linked the sudden spike in attacks to a controversial social media statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he suggested that the United States might intervene in Nigeria because of alleged religious persecution.

Lawmakers warned that extremists may be acting deliberately to create chaos and justify foreign involvement.

“This renewed trend is political,” one senator said. “They want to cause as much insecurity as possible to encourage America to come in. They want power by destabilizing our democracy.”

Although some extremists have tried to paint the violence as religious persecution, lawmakers insisted that bandits and terrorists do not target victims based on faith.

“There is nothing like Muslims being targeted or Christians being targeted. A bullet does not know who is who,” a senator said. “If miscreants attack Christians, we go after them. If they attack Muslims, we go after them. There is only one side in this matter—the protection of Nigerians.”

Despite their anger, senators commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for efforts to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren from Kwara and Kebbi, and for meeting with security chiefs “round the clock” to address the crisis.

“One child rescued is a relief for the whole country. Fifty-eight children rescued is commendable,” a senator said.

Another lawmaker argued that the President has consistently sought and obtained Senate approval for supplementary budgets to strengthen the armed forces.

“Those funds were not approved for the adversaries to buy ice cream,” he said. “They were meant to equip our forces.”

Still, lawmakers warned that President Tinubu’s efforts will fail unless the military aggressively pursues terrorists “to the finish.”

“We know the bandits. We know where they are. We know the routes they use. Everybody knows. So why can’t we muster the strength to simultaneously attack all their hideouts and eliminate them?”

Senator Adams Oshiomole criticized what he described as “conflicting and lenient judgments” issued by some High Court judges in terrorism cases.

“When the law says terrorism attracts the death penalty, no judge has the right to sentence 20 years. It is not sentiment. It is the law, Oshiomole argued.

Another key concern was the closure of numerous schools in affected areas.

“What message are we sending to the world when bandits force a government to shut down educational institutions?” a senator asked. “The future of our children is under attack.

The Senate proposed the withdrawal of police officers currently assigned to VIPs, replacing them with civil defence personnel and redeploying the police to vulnerable communities.

“Police must return to their constitutional duty,” the Senate President said while summarizing the debate. “We cannot allow bandits to overrun our communities.”

Lawmakers maintained that global alliances remain crucial, but warned that foreign actors must not exploit Nigeria’s internal weaknesses.

Senator Seriake Dickson said “We must not trivialize this matter,” one senator cautioned. “Let us speak to the crux of the issue. It is the collective responsibility of every Nigerian to make this country work.”

At the end of the session, the Senate resolved to investigate the withdrawal of soldiers from Maga Primary School, demand accountability from the commander who authorized the withdrawal and strengthen military operations in Kwara, Niger, and Kebbi States.

The Senate also declared support for President Bola Tinubu in his ongoing rescue efforts and called for coordinated intelligence and community collaboration even as they push for stricter enforcement of terrorism laws and uniform sentencing.

Closing the debate, the Senate President emphasized that the government must show decisive leadership and that Nigerians must rally behind the military in the fight against insurgency.

“We must not choose fear or despair,” he said. “Nigeria cannot bow. We will overcome this coordinated attack on our democracy.”

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