The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday voiced deep concern over the escalating security crisis in the country, describing the repeated abduction and killing of retired military officers by terrorists and criminal elements as a dangerous escalation that threatens national stability.
Lawmakers warned that the growing trend of targeting both serving and retired military personnel undermines public confidence and the nation’s overall security framework. The Red Chamber’s position came during plenary following a motion by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua on the tragic death of retired Major General Alkali Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information.
Major General Abubakar and his wife were abducted in Katsina State on May 30, 2026, and he later died while in captivity. Senators observed a minute’s silence in his honour and passed a resolution conveying condolences to his family and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Describing the late general’s death as more than a personal loss, the Senate said it symbolises the broader and persistent insecurity plaguing the nation. “The death of retired Major General Alkali Abubakar and others in the custody of terrorists represents not only personal tragedies but also a painful national loss,” the lawmakers stated.
The upper chamber highlighted a disturbing pattern of attacks on military veterans between January 2023 and May 2026.
Notable cases include:
The killing of retired Major General Richard Duru in Owerri, reportedly after a $50,000 ransom was paid.
The murder of retired Brigadier General O.M. Harlord Udokwere in Abuja.
The 56-day abduction of retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps.
The death in captivity of retired Major Aja in Kogi State.
In its resolution, the Senate noted that “the increasing frequency with which serving and retired military personnel are being targeted by criminal and terrorist groups represents a dangerous evolution in the nation’s security challenges.” Many of the victims had held sensitive intelligence, operational, and command positions, elevating these incidents to matters of broader national security.
The Senate stressed that the fallout extends beyond individual victims, affecting national unity, democratic stability, and public trust in governance. While commending the efforts of the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other agencies, the lawmakers called for urgent enhancements in intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation, technology deployment, and community engagement to curb future attacks.
The persistent wave of kidnappings and killings, the Senate added, continues to inflict deaths, trauma, economic losses, and psychological distress on victims, families, and the country at large, reinforcing the need for a more robust and coordinated national security strategy.
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