Members of the House of Representatives have expressed deep concern following the increased resurgence of Boko Haram attacks and the looting of military assets worth trillions of naira unabated, saying this could erode public trust on democratic governance. The lawmakers who took turn to speak during debate on a motion moved by Rep. Ahmed Satomi (APC, Borno) on the recent fire incident at the 127 Battalion armory at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, and the subsequent increasing attacks on military formations across Borno and Yobe States.
In his remarks on the motion, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau) said insurgents had over the years carted away tanks and weapons worth trillions of naira from military formations, despite budgetary provisions made by the National Assembly to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
“The pictures I saw from the Giwa Barracks attack frightened me,” Gagdi said. “How can we guarantee the safety of Nigerian citizens when the platforms meant to protect them are in the hands of the enemy? If care is not taken, Nigerians will soon begin to fight us the way they fight criminals and Boko Haram.”
The lawmaker frowned at the negligence by military leadership and the indifference of key government officials risked pushing the country toward anarchy. “We must go beyond passing motions. We must summon these agencies to explain their failures publicly,” he added.
In his lead debate, Hon Satomi described the fire incident and continued attacks on military installations as a grave threat to national security and public safety. “These attacks are not only undermining our military strength but leaving civilian communities dangerously exposed,” he said.
Other lawmakers also expressed concern on the same reports especially Rep. Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) revealed that Boko Haram now uses sophisticated, weaponised drones to strike both military and civilian targets.
“In Chibok, 14 farmers were butchered. In Izge, a captain and a senior officer were killed. Boko Haram is now more advanced than the Nigerian military in terms of equipment,” the lawmaker argued.
More so, Rep. member, Zainab Gimba (APC, Borno) recounted a similar attack on a multinational joint task force base in Kala Balge, where over 20 soldiers were neutralized by the terrorists. Lamenting that attacks on communities in her constituency have intensified, leaving civilians and military formations increasingly vulnerable.
In his contribution, Rep. Lawan Shettima Ali (APC, Yobe) was the opinion that a possible foreign connection to the insurgents’ growing technological edge cannot be ruled out.
“The firepower Boko Haram wields now suggests external support. We must investigate this,” he insisted.
Lawmakers also called on President Bola Tinubu to hold military commanders and security chiefs accountable for operational failures and to take immediate steps to restore public confidence.