During the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, the member representing Jere Federal Constituency, Borno State, Ahmed Satomi, presented a motion of urgent public importance on the renewed attacks by terrorists in his state.
Rallying support for the motion, Satomi, a member of the All Progressives Congress, lamented the recent fire incident in Giwa Barracks and the attacks on military formations in Borno and Yobe States.
On May 1, 2025, fire engulfed the military base; an incident the military command attributed to ‘’friendly fire.’’
“The fire incident affected the ammunition facility within the barracks, and some munitions exploded, causing loud bangs. Preliminary investigation revealed that the intense heat in Maiduguri around this time of the year may have triggered or conflagrated the fire,” a military statement clarified.
Speaking during the session, Santomi said, “I rise to move a motion of urgent public importance regarding the recent fire incident at the armoury at Giwa Barracks and the escalating attacks on military formations in Borno and Yobe States.
“The House is aware that Boko Haram has escalated its attacks on several military formations, with several soldiers killed. The recent surge in Boko Haram attacks on military formations is deeply alarming, and also, the bravery and sacrifice of our military personnel are being tested by these relentless assaults.”
In his contribution, Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau) called on the parliament to prevail on the relevant government departments to discharge their responsibility.
“As a National Assembly, we have been doing our best. We have been speaking against these ills, but Nigerians are being killed daily. We cannot continue like this.
“The departments of government should be made to account for their responsibility. We are moving to a level where Nigerians will fight against us the way they are fighting against Boko Haram. If action is not taken, Nigerians will take their destiny in their hands,” Gagdi warned.
Also speaking, the member representing Gwoza/Damboa/Chibok Federal Constituency, Borno, Ahmed Jaha, supported the motion, calling for action to protect the lives and property of innocent Nigerians.
“What is happening in Borno is very dangerous. While these innocent citizens are running, Boko Haram will be pushing them, riding brand new motorcycles and armed with newly purchased AK-47 rifles.
“We can no longer pretend that all is well. Boko Haram is coming back stronger and is more sophisticatedly armed than the Nigerian military. They are using armed drones, weaponised drones, which the Nigerian army is not using. In other words, they are more sophisticated and advanced than the Nigerian Army,” he lamented.
“I observe one thing, sir. Boko Haram is coming back worse than what we had in the past. Take it or leave it,’’ he alerted the House.
On her part, the member representing Bama/Ngala/Kalabalge Federal Constituency, Borno, Zainab Gimba, urged the Federal Government to rise to the occasion and make Nigeria safe for all citizens.
She said, “In my constituency, there was a Boko Haram attack on a military formation of the multinational joint task force, where more than 20 soldiers were killed.
“I visited that formation and the commander told me that out of nearly 100 soldiers in that formation, only six are Nigerian soldiers. It is a multinational joint task force where we expect to have, if not an equal number, at least a substantive number of Nigerian military men in that formation.”
Joining the conversation, Lawan Shettima (APC, Yobe), said, “The majority of my motions this year are about insecurity. Mr Speaker, nothing has been done, and the pressure is being mounted day by day. Our people are being killed every day.
“I want this House to come up with another idea to deal with this problem. Mr Speaker, we have to think about how to create a law that will allow our people to protect themselves,” he argued.
Lagos lawmaker, Babajimi Benson, lamented that though the Federal Government has allocated a lot of resources to tackle security, not much has been achieved.
“I stand here with a sense of responsibility and humility to say that the presidency has expended so much money, so many resources on the Nigerian military without commensurate results. Mr Speaker, I also say with all sense of responsibility that Mr President has, on many occasions, put the creation of state police on the front burner. Yet, not much has been achieved,” he lamented.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House resolved to investigate the cause of the fire incident at Giwa Barracks armoury and report back for immediate action to prevent future occurrences.
It also resolved to “Conduct a thorough review of security measures in military installations to prevent similar incidents.”
The lawmakers further agreed to “Strengthen security operations in Borno and Yobe states to protect military personnel and civilians and provide support and compensation to families of soldiers affected by these incidents.”
Concerns over Otukpo insecurity
The House of Representatives expressed worry over the deteriorating security situation in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
This followed the frequent killings of defenceless Nigerians in the North Central state recently by armed herdsmen.
Raising the issue on the floor of the House, Benue lawmaker Blessing Onuh said the peace the ancient city was known for has been shattered by the reckless killings of the people in the past few years.
“Otukpo has always been known for its peace and hospitality. However, in recent years, we have witnessed heinous and senseless killings perpetrated by armed herders.
“These are predominantly farming communities. Our people can no longer access their farmlands, which not only threatens their livelihoods but also poses a grave risk to food production and sufficiency in the region,” Onuh stressed.
In its resolution, the House condemned the killings in the strongest terms and called on the National Security Adviser and the service chiefs to deploy maximum security personnel in the affected areas to restore peace and order.
“We must act swiftly to protect lives and properties,” the House declared. “The perpetrators of these barbaric acts must be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.”
The lawmakers also urged the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency to urgently provide relief materials to the victims of the attacks.
As a show of solidarity, the House resolved to send a high-powered delegation to commiserate with the people of Otukpo and observed a one-minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
