Nigerian legislators issued stark warnings yesterday about the deteriorating security situation across the country, with some predicting potential citizen revolt if immediate action isn’t taken by the federal government.
The House of Representatives debate, sparked by Ahmed Satomi’s motion on the recent Giwa Barracks armoury fire and increasing attacks on military installations in Borno and Yobe states, quickly evolved into emotional testimonies from lawmakers representing affected regions.
Representative Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau) delivered one of the most pointed warnings: “Until the right thing is done by us here, until government responds with action, not just media statements, don’t bet that any member of the National Assembly is safe. We may be attacked not by Boko Haram, but by the people that elected you and I.”
He added that Nigerians might soon “take their destinies in their own hands” if the government fails to address the security challenges effectively.
Boko Haram resurge, now more sophisticated
Lawmakers from the northeastern states painted a grim picture of Boko Haram’s resurgence with enhanced capabilities:
- Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) reported that insurgents are now using weaponised drones that outmatch the Nigerian Army’s equipment
- 10 farmers were slaughtered in Pulka and 14 in Chibok
- Multiple military officers were killed in attacks at Izge and Kampu
- Jaha warned of a return to the period when 22 out of 27 local governments in Borno were under Boko Haram control
“Boko Haram is coming back worse than what we had in the past. Take it or leave it,” Jaha emphasised, highlighting that despite N19.7 trillion spent on security between 2015 and 2019, the situation has worsened.
Representative Zainab Gimba (APC, Borno) revealed disturbing international elements to the crisis, he said that, 20 soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram ambush on a multinational force base in her constituency.
She also revealed that base commander reported seeing “several white men” among the insurgents, indicating foreign influence. Only six Nigerian soldiers were present among approximately 100 troops at the multinational joint task force formation. She also cited that the withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali from ECOWAS has created additional threats along Nigeria’s borders.
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Call for citizen self-defence
In a controversial suggestion, Shettima Ali (APC, Yobe) called for legislative reforms to allow citizens to defend themselves:
“Let this House create a law that permits our people to protect themselves. The security forces are not enough and don’t know the terrain,” Ali stated, emphasising that security personnel are inadequate and unfamiliar with local communities.
Representative Gimba also raised concerns about the placement of military installations within urban areas, referring to the Giwa Barracks fire in Maiduguri that led to explosions of military ordinance:
“Before the public knew what was happening, panic had already spread. These formations should be outside city centres. Our lives should not be politicised.”
Senate President Acknowledges Crisis
Senate President Godswill Akpabio echoed these concerns in his address after the Senate’s recess, stating that insecurity and economic challenges are “stretching the patience and resilience of our people.”
Akpabio highlighted ongoing security issues across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones:
- South-East and North-West: Communities battling criminality and terrorism
- North-Central: Continuing farmer-herder conflicts
- South-South: Unresolved questions of environmental equity and resource fairness
“These are not just news headlines,” Akpabio stated, “they are the bleeding wounds of the republic. Our people look to us, not for rhetoric, but for rescue.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency has yet to respond to these criticisms. Attempts to reach the President’s Special Adviser on Media and the National Security Adviser were unsuccessful.
