Nigeria’s National Assembly has formally summoned the country’s defence chiefs for a high-level security briefing following a sharp rise in violent attacks across rural communities in the last three weeks. The move comes amid growing public frustration over persistent insecurity and increasing pressure on lawmakers to demand accountability from the military and federal security agencies.
The summons was issued after a heated joint-committee session during which senators and members of the House of Representatives criticised what they described as “a widening security vacuum” affecting nearly a dozen states in the North-West, North-Central, and parts of the South.
According to legislative sources cited in a report by The Guardian Nigeria, lawmakers noted that several recent incidents including village raids, highway ambushes, and nighttime assaults on farming settlements demonstrate an “urgent need for structural and operational changes” in Nigeria’s security architecture.
Lawmakers Express Deep Concern Over Rural Vulnerability
Speaking during plenary, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmad Yusuf, said rural Nigeria has become “the softest target for violent groups,” adding that the nation “cannot continue to operate a response-based security system instead of a preventive one.”
He further stressed that insecurity is eroding economic productivity, slowing agricultural output, disrupting local commerce, and accelerating migration from rural areas.
Defence Chiefs Ordered to Present a New Operational Plan
The National Assembly directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and Inspector-General of Police to appear next week with:
• A new national operational plan
• Updated threat analysis
• Clear deployment strategies
• Proposed resource requirements
• Evaluation of existing joint task forces
• Explanation for intelligence failures in high-risk zones
Lawmakers said they expect a realistic framework, not “another theoretical security blueprint.”
Communities at the Centre of the Crisis
Independent field reports show that several rural communities in Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Benue, and Katsina are experiencing recurrent night raids and violent incursions. Farmers say they are unable to access farmlands due to fear of attacks.
Traditional rulers have submitted several petitions to the National Assembly requesting more security personnel, improved road surveillance, and deployment of technology for rural monitoring.
Agricultural Losses and Economic Damage
Officials from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture estimate that insecurity contributes significantly to rising food inflation.
Key economic impacts include:
• Abandoned farmlands
• Loss of livestock and food stock
• Destruction of village markets
• Disruption of food transportation routes
• Higher food prices nationwide
Economists warn that if rural insecurity persists, Nigeria may struggle to meet federal food production targets for 2026.
Security Agencies Defend Their Operations
A senior military officer, speaking anonymously, said the armed forces are “operating under severe logistical and manpower constraints.”
He added that joint operations across multiple states stretch available personnel and resources.
What Nigerians Expect Moving Forward
Civil society groups, religious councils, and community associations have called for:
• Increased drone surveillance
• More police recruitment
• Faster judicial processes
• Better community-military collaboration
• Deployment of mobile technology for early-warning alerts
Security analysts want the National Assembly to enforce strict oversight, monitor budget implementation, and demand measurable results from service chiefs.
