The Senate on Wednesday raised fresh concerns over the resurgence of insurgent attacks in Borno State following a deadly assault on a Nigerian Army formation in Kukawa Local Government Area that led to the death of a commanding officer and several soldiers.

The alarm was raised during plenary after the Chief Whip of the Senate, Tahir Monguno, presented a motion drawing the attention of lawmakers to the coordinated attack carried out by suspected insurgents in the early hours of March 9, 2026.

Moving the motion, Monguno informed the chamber that the attackers stormed the military formation from multiple directions and engaged troops in a fierce gun battle that reportedly lasted several hours.

He noted with deep concern that the attack resulted in the death of Lieutenant Colonel Umar Farouq, a senior officer who played a significant role in facilitating the return of residents to Kukawa town after the community had previously been ransacked by insurgents.

The senator further lamented that the attackers set military vehicles ablaze and looted weapons during the assault, describing the development as part of a renewed wave of attacks targeting military formations in the North-East despite ongoing counter-insurgency operations under Operation Hadin Kai.

Security sources disclosed that Lt-Col Farouq, who commanded military operations in Kukawa, sustained injuries during the attack and later died while being conveyed to Maiduguri for medical treatment.

The Senate was also informed that the incident formed part of a troubling pattern of attacks in which several commanding officers have recently lost their lives while defending their bases against insurgents.

Media reports cited during the debate indicated that among the officers killed were Major U.I. Mairiga, who headed the Mayenti base; Lt-Col Umar Farouq, commander of the Kukawa base and the 101 Brigade; and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who served in Konduga.

Findings presented before the chamber further showed that within the last three months, commanding officers stationed in Damasak, Kukawa and Bama have reportedly been killed during attacks on military formations or ambushes carried out by insurgents during clearance operations.

In his contribution, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan warned that insurgency in Borno State was resurging at an alarming rate and called for extraordinary measures to contain the situation.

He disclosed that several communities had come under simultaneous attacks, noting that Mairari community in Borno North was ransacked the same day Baga was attacked.

Lawan also revealed that Konduga Local Government Area in Borno Central suffered an assault during which the Commanding Officer, Lt-Col Iliyasu, lost his life, while Gajiganna community was similarly overrun by insurgents.

He further stated that In Biu Junction, which shares a border with the constituency of Senator Ali Ndume representing Borno South, another commanding officer identified as Lt-Col Gidado was also killed.

According to him, the loss of several commanding officers within a few days underscored the seriousness of the renewed insurgent offensive in the state.

While commending the Nigerian military for remaining resolute in confronting insurgents, the lawmaker noted that their commitment had continued to ensure that citizens could live with a measure of safety despite the threats.

Presiding over the session, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, acknowledged the gravity of the security challenges but expressed confidence in the efforts being made by the federal government to tackle the situation.

He noted that security challenges were not limited to one part of the country, adding that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to addressing insecurity across the nation.

Following deliberations, the Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of the soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice in defence of the country.

The lawmakers also commended officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly troops involved in Operation Hadin Kai, for their courage, resilience and dedication in confronting insurgents and safeguarding communities in the North-East.

The Senate further urged the Armed Forces to intensify ongoing counter-insurgency operations by strengthening intelligence gathering, surveillance and operational capabilities in order to bring lasting peace to Borno State, the wider North-East region and Nigeria as a whole. (The Sun)

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