After Boko Haram attacked important military outposts in Benisheikh and Monguno, Borno State again, the Senate told Nigeria’s senior military authorities to do a full examination of all activities right away.
The order, which was given during a plenary session on Wednesday, tells General Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Defence Staff, and other service chiefs to carefully review the operational plans, logistics, and equipment deployment that were used in the recent attacks.
Lawmakers said the audit has to look into what happened before the assaults, check if the military’s equipment is up to par, and make sure that the rules of engagement are being followed. The Armed Forces were also told to quickly fix any problems that were found during the procedure.
The Senate also asked for a probe into reports of civilian deaths during military operations. They stressed the need for openness, responsibility, and improved protections for non-combatants.
Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North) made a motion that led to the resolutions. He cautioned that attacks on military formations by militants in the North-East were getting worse.
He was very worried about the deaths of senior officers Brigadier General Oseni Braimoh, Colonel Mohammed Isya, Captain A.M. Esmat, and Lieutenant Kelvin Festus, as well as 13 other soldiers.
The congressman noted that Monguno is an important garrison town and Benisheikh is a key route along the Damaturu–Maiduguri highway. The repeated attacks show that there is a coordinated effort to weaken the military presence and stop humanitarian and economic activity in the area.
The Senate recognized the continuous efforts of Nigerian forces in the fight against insurgents, but it also warned that the rise in attacks posed serious threats to national security, food production, and ongoing resettlement programs for people who have been displaced within the country.
It stressed that protecting civilians is still a basic duty under both local and international humanitarian law, and that public faith in military operations rests a lot on following these rules.
In a gesture of respect, lawmakers held a minute of silence for the soldiers and victims of the attacks who had died. They also severely condemned the ongoing atrocities by Boko Haram extremists.
The chamber also told the military to make sure that they follow the rules of engagement better by giving them more training, especially in how to protect civilians.
Abdul Ningi and other senators, on the other hand, called for a temporary halt to political activity in states afflicted by war until security conditions improve, saying that stability and safety should come first.
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