Northern senators call for offensive against Adamawa insurgents

The Northern Senators Forum has called for an immediate military offensive against insurgents operating in the Kopre-Sambisa corridor of Adamawa State after attacks on two military battalions. Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, chairman of the forum, made the demand in a personally signed statement issued on Sunday. He also urged the Federal Government and Defence Headquarters to reinforce troops in the area.

According to the statement, the 226 Battalion in Garkida and the 232 Battalion in Garaha were attacked on Wednesday and Thursday. The attacks reportedly resulted in the deaths of soldiers, a forest guard and civilians. Yar’Adua said the violence had affected communities across Hong and Gombi local government areas.

He described the attacks as an assault on Adamawa State, the North and Nigeria as a whole. The senator said the forum was particularly concerned by reports of killings, abductions of women and children, the burning of places of worship, property destruction and the displacement of hundreds of families. Communities named in the statement included Garaha, Dabna, Bangna, Mubang, Zah, Bitirhuya, Kwapre, Mayo Ladde, Gaya-Dlang, Garkida, Boima and Guyaku.

The forum urged the security authorities to adopt what it called a unified and proactive strategy to remove the armed groups from the area. It also asked the National Emergency Management Agency and the North East Development Commission to provide relief materials to people displaced by the attacks. Yar’Adua offered condolences to families affected by the violence and said the senators stood with Adamawa residents.

The statement did not provide details of any military response to the attacks.