By Abigail David
The Senate on Tuesday expressed concern over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, warning that the increasing abduction and killing of serving and retired military personnel signals a dangerous escalation of the country’s security challenges.
The concern followed a motion sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua on the death of retired Major General Alkali Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, who was abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State on May 30, 2026, and later died in captivity.
Adopting the motion during plenary, lawmakers observed a minute’s silence in honour of the late officer and resolved to convey condolences to his family and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The Senate described Abubakar’s death as a painful national loss and a reflection of the growing insecurity across the country. It warned that the recurring attacks on military personnel, many of whom held sensitive intelligence and operational positions during their service, have become a significant national security concern.
Lawmakers cited several incidents recorded between 2023 and 2026, including the killing of retired Major General Richard Duru in Owerri, the murder of retired Brigadier General O.M. Harlord Udokwere in Abuja, the 56-day abduction of former National Youth Service Corps Director-General, retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, and the death in captivity of retired Major Aja in Kogi State.
The Senate stressed that the attacks extend beyond isolated criminal acts and threaten national stability, public confidence and democratic governance.
While commending the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies for their efforts, the lawmakers called for improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency collaboration, greater deployment of technology and enhanced community engagement to tackle insecurity.
The upper chamber also noted that the persistent wave of kidnappings and killings has continued to inflict loss of lives, prolonged captivity, economic hardship and psychological trauma on victims and their families, underscoring the need for a more coordinated national security response.
