The Senate has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt the rehabilitation and reintegration of former Boko Haram members into society, insisting that terrorists and bandits should instead be arrested, prosecuted and made to face the full weight of the law.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance on the escalating attacks, abductions and killings of serving and retired military personnel, sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, during plenary on Tuesday.
In its resolutions, the Senate strongly condemned the worsening state of insecurity across the country, describing it as persistent, complex and alarming. It noted that terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and attacks on communities have continued to claim innocent lives and spread beyond the North-East to virtually every region of Nigeria.
The lawmakers also observed a minute of silence in honour of former Director of Defence Information, Major-General Rabe Abubakar (retd), and other Nigerians who have lost their lives to terrorism, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.
The Senate further resolved to constitute a delegation to visit the family of the late general, the Katsina State Government and the Nigerian Army to convey its condolences.
Leading the debate, Senator Yar’Adua described the killing of Major-General Abubakar as a painful national loss that demands urgent government action. He said retired military officers have become attractive targets for terrorists and kidnappers because of their previous operational, intelligence and command responsibilities.
According to him, the continued attacks on military personnel, both serving and retired, weaken troop morale, undermine public confidence in the nation’s security architecture and embolden criminal groups.
To support his position, Yar’Adua cited several attacks on retired senior military officers since 2023. These include the abduction of Colonel Rabiu Garba Yandoto (retd) and his two children in Zamfara State on January 1, 2023; the kidnapping and subsequent killing of Major-General Richard Chukwudi Duru in Imo State on September 27, 2023, despite the payment of a $50,000 ransom; and the murder of Brigadier-General Uwem Harold Udokwere (retd) during an attack on his Abuja residence on June 22, 2024.
He also recalled the abduction of former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga (retd), in Katsina State on February 5, 2025. Tsiga regained his freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.
Other cases highlighted include the abduction and death in captivity of retired Major Joe Ajayi in Kogi State in May 2025, the kidnapping and rescue of Colonel Joseph Ajanaku (retd) in Plateau State in January 2026, and the abduction of Major-General Rabe Abubakar (retd) alongside his wife in Katsina State on May 30, 2026. Abubakar later died while in captivity.
The Senate maintained that the recurring attacks on retired military officers demonstrate the urgent need for stronger security measures to protect both current and former personnel, while restoring public confidence in the country’s security system.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army announced that two senior terrorist commanders have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State. The Army said the suspects are in custody and have provided valuable intelligence expected to support ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.