During a session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio responded to concerns raised by Senator Garba Maidoki (APC, Kebbi South), who highlighted the escalating insecurity in his constituency. Akpabio shared that his New Year’s prayer was for an end to banditry and insurgency in 2026, expressing optimism that with collective effort, the year would mark the demise of these threats.
"We stand with you, Senator Maidoki," Akpabio stated. "This menace must end. On January 1, I prayed for Nigeria’s deliverance from banditry, and by God’s grace, 2026 will be remembered as the year we reclaimed our peace. These criminals target vulnerable communities, and while we can’t station troops in every village, we must strengthen our response."
Senator Maidoki urged the Senate to prioritize military funding in the ongoing budget deliberations, stressing that without security, infrastructure and education investments would be futile. "If schools are built but children flee due to attacks, what’s the benefit?" he argued. "Let’s redirect resources—wherever necessary—to equip our forces and end this crisis before December."
The Senate further called on President Bola Tinubu to fulfill his promise of establishing a new military barracks in high-risk zones and directed the Inspector General of Police to deploy armored vehicles and intelligence-driven strategies, including cross-state collaboration and community surveillance, particularly in Katsina and other hotspots.
Toll of Violence
Senator Dandutse provided grim statistics: In under two weeks, 35 lives were lost across Katsina’s Funtua zone—24 in Faskari, 8 in Dandume, 2 in Funtua, and 1 in Kankara. He warned that continued attacks could devastate food security, with over 50,000 farmlands abandoned due to fear, threatening livelihoods and worsening hunger.
"Farmers are terrified to tend their fields," he noted. "If this persists, famine will follow the bloodshed."
The resolution underscored urgency, linking national stability to defeating banditry. "We must act now," Akpabio concluded. "Not just with words, but with resources and resolve."
