The Senate on Wednesday commended troops of Operation Hadin Kai for their bravery in confronting insurgents in the North-East and called for intensified military operations following a deadly attack on a military formation in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Lawmakers also observed a minute of silence in honour of soldiers who lost their lives during the attack carried out by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
The resolution followed a motion moved by the senator representing Borno North Senatorial District, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, who drew the Senate’s attention to the assault, which occurred in the early hours of March 9, 2026.
Presenting the motion during plenary, Monguno said the terrorists launched a coordinated attack on an army base in Kukawa, engaging troops in a fierce gun battle that reportedly lasted nearly 24 hours.
He said, “The Senate notes with deep concern that in the early hours of March 9, suspected insurgents launched a coordinated attack on a military formation of the Nigerian Army in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, engaging troops in a fierce gun battle.”
According to the lawmaker, the invaders approached the military formation from multiple directions and engaged the troops in intense fighting, resulting in casualties on both sides.
Monguno disclosed that a senior military officer, Lieutenant Colonel Umar Faru, and several soldiers were killed while defending the base against the insurgents.
“The attack resulted in the death of Lieutenant Colonel Umar Faru, who was instrumental in the return of the people of Kukawa town after it was ransacked by insurgents, alongside other gallant soldiers,” he said.
The senator further expressed concern that some military vehicles were set ablaze and weapons looted during the attack, describing the incident as part of a renewed wave of assaults on military formations in the North-East despite ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
He also revealed that another community in Kukawa Local Government Area, identified as Doro, was attacked earlier on Tuesday, leading to the death of another soldier.
“In fact, even this morning as I was coming here to move this motion, I received a report that another community in Kukawa Local Government Area, named Doro, was attacked by insurgents and one soldier lost his life in the course of the fight,” Monguno added.
While commending the courage and sacrifice of the troops, the senator urged the military to intensify ongoing operations through improved intelligence gathering, enhanced surveillance, and strengthened operational capabilities to eradicate insurgency in the region.
The motion was seconded by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central), who raised concern over what he described as a renewed resurgence of insurgent attacks across several communities in the state.
“Mr President, the renewed resurgence of insurgency in Borno State is at an alarming rate, and something extraordinary needs to be done,” Lawan said.
He disclosed that several communities, including Mafa, Baga, and Konduga, had recently come under attack, resulting in the deaths of civilians and military personnel, including commanding officers.
“In a couple of days, we lost about three commanding officers as a result of this renewed resurgence,” he added.
Following deliberations, the Senate commended officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly troops of Operation Hadin Kai, for their resilience and commitment in confronting insurgents and safeguarding communities in the North-East.
Lawmakers also urged the armed forces to intensify counter-insurgency operations by strengthening intelligence gathering, surveillance, and logistics support with a view to ending insecurity in the region.
In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, commended Monguno for bringing the motion before the Senate and acknowledged his efforts in supporting military operations in his constituency.
“You’ve done very well by bringing forward this motion. You have lived up to your responsibility as a senator representing that area, and we know how much you have been doing to help the military,” Barau said.
He added that the Federal Government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to addressing security challenges across the country.
“Security challenges are not limited to Nigeria alone; many parts of the world are facing similar issues. But the President is doing his best to deal with the situation here at home,” he said.
Barau emphasised that tackling insecurity requires collective effort and urged stakeholders to continue supporting initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability across the country.
The latest attack highlights renewed security concerns in the North-East, where Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai have been battling insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and its offshoot factions, for more than a decade.
Despite sustained military operations, sporadic assaults on communities and military formations continue to pose challenges to efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace in the region.
