By Nathaniel Zaccheus, Abuja
Northern senators yesterday spoke with one voice to condemn the spate of deadly attacks in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states, warning that the rising bloodshed has pushed the country to a dangerous tipping point and demanding an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture.
Leading the charge, Senators Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan described the killings as a national emergency that required swift, coordinated and decisive action beyond routine condemnations and official condolences.
Reacting to the attacks in parts of Kwara State, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the continued slaughter of innocent Nigerians had become intolerable, stressing that insecurity now posed a direct threat to national peace, unity and stability.
She lamented the loss of lives and the trauma inflicted on families and communities, insisting that government at all levels must demonstrate, through concrete action, that the protection of lives remained its foremost responsibility.
“The persistent killings of innocent Nigerians are unacceptable and deeply troubling,” she said, adding that justice for victims must not be treated as optional.
According to her, failure to carry out swift, transparent and credible investigations would only fuel impunity, embolden criminals and deepen public frustration and despair.
Lawan noted that behind every statistic were families torn apart and futures abruptly cut short, calling for national solidarity with affected communities as they mourn their dead.
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the immediate deployment of an Army battalion to Kwara State under Operation Savannah Shield, Lawan said the swift military response reflected the federal government’s resolve to stem the violence and restore order.
He urged traditional rulers, community leaders and residents to remain calm and cooperate fully with security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence, stressing that the welfare and security of citizens constituted the primary purpose of government.
The individual interventions were reinforced by a strongly worded statement from the Northern Senators Forum, which condemned the recent attacks in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states that have reportedly claimed more than 130 lives.
The forum expressed condolences to the governments and people of the affected states, describing the killings as a grim reminder of the magnitude of insecurity confronting the nation.
The statement, signed by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yaradua, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of security personnel but insisted that existing capacity was being overstretched by the growing threats.
It called on the federal government to urgently scale up recruitment into the security services, improve funding, and strengthen operational capacity to respond effectively to the evolving security challenges.
The forum also appealed to citizens to support security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious movements and activities within their communities, noting that intelligence sharing remained critical to preventing attacks.
Beyond condemnation, the northern senators emphasised the need to tackle the root causes of insecurity through intelligence-driven operations, deeper community engagement and a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s security framework.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed that a people-centred approach was essential to rebuilding trust and ensuring communities could live without fear, while Lawan pointed to ongoing legislative efforts aimed at improving coordination among security agencies nationwide.
As grief and mourning continue in the affected areas, the lawmakers assured Nigerians of sustained legislative oversight and closer collaboration with the executive to halt the violence.
For the northern senators, the message was unmistakable: the killings are one too many, and restoring security across the country can no longer be postponed.
