Senators have raised alarm over the recent spike in killings, abductions, and terror attacks across the country, linking the violence to political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
During a debate on a motion of urgent national importance on Wednesday, lawmakers pointed to disturbing parallels between the current security breakdown and events that preceded the 2015 elections.
The motion, sponsored by Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau (PDP, Taraba North), drew support from several senators, including Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) and Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central), who both urged the federal government to dig deeper into possible political motivations behind the violence.
Senator Karimi, citing fresh cases of mass abductions in his district, warned that the resurgence of Boko Haram and armed banditry may not be coincidental.
“In the last two weeks alone, several individuals from my senatorial district, up to 20, 25, even 30, have been kidnapped,” Karimi said.
“You may recall that the Governor of Borno State recently stated that the resurgence of Boko Haram has been linked to some disgruntled elements within the country, including some individuals in the military, who are allegedly collaborating with the insurgents. We must ask: why? What is the motive behind this? What do they stand to gain?
“Mr President, you recently constituted a committee on national security, and I believe this matter must be thoroughly investigated. We cannot allow these disgruntled elements to destabilise the country for selfish political interests.
He continued, “We saw similar signs before the 2015 elections, where some individuals prepared for violence in case they lost at the polls. The same pattern appears to be emerging now as we approach the 2027 elections. These attacks may not be random, they may be coordinated efforts by those who feel they are losing political relevance and seek to plunge the country into chaos as a strategy to regain power by force.
“The panel you’ve set up must work closely with our security agencies to expose anyone collaborating with terrorists. These people must be unmasked and held accountable.”
Also speaking, Senator Goje echoed the concerns, calling the spread of insecurity “deeply troubling.”
He said, “Mr President, this isn’t an isolated incident. Crises are erupting across the country, from Karim Lamido to areas in Bauchi, such as Alkaleri, and beyond. We need to ask hard questions: Why now? Why this sudden surge in violence?
“I strongly support Senator Karimi’s call for a deeper investigation. We must determine whether these incidents are linked to the political buildup to 2027. We cannot dismiss this as mere coincidence.
“Yesterday it was Lau. Before that, Alkaleri. Tomorrow, it could be any state in the federation. It’s shameful and deeply troubling that insecurity remains our nation’s greatest challenge. Yes, we acknowledge the efforts of the federal government and security agencies. But clearly, it is not enough. We must elevate national security to our top priority and act decisively.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio condemned the worsening violence and urged security agencies to act swiftly to prevent further loss of life.
“As a people, we must ensure that such tragedies, where over 70 people are killed in a single attack, never happen again,” Akpabio said. “May the souls of the departed rest in peace. I urge the security agencies to act on the Senate’s advice — deploy more personnel, set up surveillance systems, and take proactive measures.”
In its resolutions, the Senate called on security agencies to increase surveillance and intelligence around the Taraba–Plateau–Bauchi border axis, where the latest attacks occurred. State and local governments were also urged to play a more active role in securing communities.
In a show of solidarity, the Senate directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) to urgently provide relief materials to the affected areas.
The chamber observed a minute of silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the attacks.
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