By Joy Yesufu
The Senate on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation in Katsina State, particularly in the Funtua Zone, following fresh bandit attacks that reportedly claimed at least 35 lives within 24 hours across three local government areas.
Lawmakers urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently fulfil his pledge to establish a military barracks in the area, while warning against any form of negotiation with armed groups terrorising rural communities.
The call followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Senator Dandutse Mohammed (Katsina South) under Order 42 of the Senate Rules, seeking immediate federal intervention to halt the escalating violence.
The motion was admitted for debate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio after receiving overwhelming support.
Moving the motion, Senator Dandutse said Katsina had been plunged into mourning by a renewed wave of coordinated attacks, including an ambush on Mobile Police Force personnel in Guga, Bako Local Government Area of Katsina metropolis, where three policemen were killed and two others critically injured.
He disclosed that at least 35 people were killed in less than 24 hours across the Funtua Zone, with 24 fatalities recorded in Faskari Local Government Area, eight in Bakori, two in Funtua and one in Kankara.
The lawmaker warned that persistent insecurity had rendered over 50,000 farmlands inaccessible, posing a serious threat to food security, agricultural productivity and livelihoods in the largely agrarian region.
“The continuous bandit attacks will significantly affect food production, as more than 50,000 farmlands remain uncultivated, thereby jeopardising food security and the economic survival of our people,” he said.
Dandutse recalled that President Tinubu had pledged to establish a military barracks in the Funtua Zone during a visit by a delegation of elders from the area and urged the President to ensure the promise was fulfilled without delay.
Seconding the motion, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau said the Federal Government had already directed the military to intensify operations in Katsina, particularly around the Funtua axis, but stressed the need for additional troops, improved technology and more decisive action.
“The military is doing well, but the determination of these bandits shows that we must do more. We need increased force, advanced technology and sustained engagement,” Barau said.
Contributing, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North) described the motion as timely, warning that the worsening security situation in Katsina was undermining national food supply chains.
“This is an agricultural heartland. Farmers have been displaced, and food production disrupted. The establishment of a permanent military formation in the area must be fully implemented,” he said.
Senator Ahmed Wadada (Nasarawa West) cautioned strongly against negotiating with bandits, describing such engagements as counterproductive and dangerous.
“Negotiation with bandits empowers criminals while pretending to fight them. These groups are driven by extremism. Intelligence-led operations must remain our first line of defence,” Wadada warned.
Following the debate, the Senate resolved to urge President Tinubu to fulfil his pledge to establish a military barracks in the Funtua Zone; direct the Inspector-General of Police to equip the newly established police squadron in the area with at least three Armoured Personnel Carriers; and mandate the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency to provide immediate relief to affected communities.
The chamber observed a one-minute silence in honour of victims of the attacks.
In a related intervention, Senator Titus Zam (Benue North) sympathised with the people of Katsina and disclosed that despite relative improvements in parts of Benue State, fresh killings had occurred in Kwande Local Government Area. He urged the military to intensify nationwide operations.
In his closing remarks, Senate President Akpabio acknowledged the growing frustration among lawmakers over persistent insecurity and assured that the National Assembly would prioritise increased funding for the military in the 2026 budget.
He noted that Nigeria’s vast territorial size made it impractical to deploy troops to every community, stressing the need for advanced surveillance technologies, including drones, to secure hard-to-reach areas.
Akpabio also warned against collaboration with criminal elements, noting that intelligence leaks from within communities often undermine security operations. He assured that the Senate would follow up on its resolutions to ensure timely approvals and release of funds.
