NORTHERN SENATORS BACK ARMY EXPANSION FOLLOWING BENUE, KADUNA KILLINGS
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
Here’s a polished headline and a rephrased version of the report:
The Northern Senators Forum has condemned the recent killings in Benue and Kaduna states, describing the attacks as tragic and urging intensified efforts to apprehend and prosecute those responsible.
The senators also expressed support for the Federal Government’s latest security measures, including the planned expansion of the Nigerian Army and recruitment of additional personnel, saying the initiative would enhance the country’s capacity to tackle rising security threats.
The position was contained in a condolence statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the forum’s Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua.
The statement followed separate attacks in Benue and Kaduna states that left dozens dead and forced several families from their homes.
In Benue, gunmen reportedly attacked Efeyi community in Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area, in the early hours of Tuesday, killing 13 people and injuring several others. Security personnel were subsequently deployed to the area to restore calm.
Similarly, suspected attackers invaded Naridon Village in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday, killing about 30 people, including women and children, while several houses were destroyed.
Yar’Adua expressed sympathy with the governments and people of both states, assuring affected families of the forum’s solidarity and support.
He said the senators welcomed the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to strengthening national security.
The forum noted that President Bola Tinubu had approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, as well as the recruitment of 28,000 additional military personnel.
According to the senators, the expansion would decentralise military command, strengthen border security and improve the speed and effectiveness of responses to emerging threats across the country.
The forum described the initiative as a timely measure that would provide broader strategic coverage and additional operational support while helping to rebuild public confidence in the security system.
However, Yar’Adua stressed that the expansion must be accompanied by adequate weapons and equipment, logistics, and improved welfare for military personnel to ensure the new formations function effectively.
The senators also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely intelligence that could assist in preventing further attacks.
They called on the Federal Government to ensure the prompt arrest and prosecution of those behind the killings, while providing adequate relief and assistance to victims and internally displaced persons.
The forum maintained that lasting peace would require coordinated security operations, improved intelligence gathering and sustained investment in Nigeria’s security architecture.
The latest attacks have further heightened security concerns across parts of northern and central Nigeria, where communities continue to experience attacks by armed groups despite ongoing military operations.
The Federal Government has repeatedly pledged to strengthen the nation’s security architecture through increased troop deployment, improved intelligence gathering and greater collaboration among security agencies.
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