Senate Urges FG To Hunt Down Bandits, Terrorists Nationwide

The Senate has urged the Federal Government to sustain and intensify military and intelligence operations against terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminal groups across the country following the successful rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after 56 days in captivity.

The upper chamber also called on the Federal Government to immediately pay all statutory death benefits, insurance claims, pensions and other entitlements due to the families of security personnel who lost their lives during the rescue operation.

Lawmakers further urged the government to strengthen the welfare, training, equipment and operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies to improve the country's fight against insecurity.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and co-sponsored by 108 other senators, who commended President Bola Tinubu for what they described as his decisive leadership and commitment to strengthening Nigeria's security architecture.

Leading the debate, Bamidele recalled that terrorists abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, throwing the victims, their families and the nation into weeks of anxiety and uncertainty.

He described the attack as a disturbing expansion of organised criminal activities into the South-West and a direct assault on the right of every Nigerian child to receive education in a safe environment.

According to him, President Tinubu immediately directed the Armed Forces and other security and intelligence agencies to deploy all lawful resources necessary to secure the unconditional release of the victims.

Bamidele said the intelligence-led operation, which lasted more than 50 days, culminated in the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers on July 10, alongside the arrest of eight suspected terrorists and the neutralisation of several others.

He noted, however, that the operation came at a heavy cost.

According to the Senate Leader, Lieutenant F.A. Isaac, Private Silas Musa and Sergeant Abena John Jerome lost their lives during the operation, while Lance Corporal Adamu Hussain sustained injuries.

Despite the death of one of the abducted teachers while in captivity, Bamidele described the operation as a major victory that restored hope among Nigerians and demonstrated the Federal Government's determination to deny terrorists safe haven anywhere in the country.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Fatai Buhari described the day of the abduction as a "Black Friday" for his senatorial district, recalling that the victims endured 56 days of hardship before they regained their freedom.

He disclosed that some of the rescued pupils were placed on oxygen support and intravenous drips after they were freed, but said they showed remarkable improvement within 24 hours of receiving medical attention.

Following the debate, the Senate urged the Federal Government to sustain military pressure on terrorists and other criminal groups through the deployment of modern weapons, advanced surveillance technology, improved intelligence gathering, enhanced logistics and better welfare packages for security personnel.

The lawmakers said security operations should continue until Nigerians can live, work and attend school without fear.

The Senate also appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting the Armed Forces and other security agencies by providing timely intelligence and cooperating with security authorities in efforts to combat insecurity.

As part of its resolutions, the upper chamber observed a minute's silence in honour of the security personnel who lost their lives during the rescue mission.

The Senate also commended President Tinubu for his leadership throughout the operation and praised his administration's ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria's security architecture.