Abayomi susan
The Senate has called on the Federal Government to suspend the rehabilitation and reintegration programme for Boko Haram members, while urging security agencies to intensify efforts towards arresting and prosecuting terrorists and other criminal elements responsible for attacks across the country.
The resolution was adopted during Tuesday’s plenary session following a motion sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, who raised concerns over the increasing attacks, abductions, and killings involving serving and retired military personnel. He described the development as a serious threat to national security and state authority, warning that the rising insecurity requires urgent and decisive action.
The Senate also directed its committees responsible for security matters to strengthen oversight of security agencies and ensure that security chiefs remain focused on tackling the worsening security situation. The upper chamber further resolved that a delegation led by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, should meet with President Bola Tinubu to discuss the country’s security challenges and explore measures to address them.
Presenting the motion, Senator Yar’Adua highlighted several cases of attacks, kidnappings, and killings involving retired military officers, noting that the incidents have caused loss of lives, prolonged captivity, ransom payments, emotional trauma, and economic hardship for victims, their families, and the nation. He cited cases including the abduction of retired Colonel Rabiu Garba Yandoto and his two children in Zamfara State, the killing of retired Major General Richard Chukwudi Duru in Imo State, and other attacks on former security officials across the country.
Following extensive deliberations, the Senate resolved to call for the suspension of the terrorists’ rehabilitation and reintegration programme, while demanding stronger security operations, improved intelligence gathering, and the prosecution of those responsible for violent crimes. The lawmakers stressed that protecting citizens, restoring public confidence, and addressing the nation’s security challenges must remain a top priority of government.
