Amid growing tensions, the Nigerian Senate has summoned key security officials to appear before lawmakers next week to address the deteriorating security situation. The high-profile invitees include National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Army Staff General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun. Others expected at the briefing are Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Adeola Ajayi, and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Mohammed Mohammed.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, speaking during Wednesday’s plenary, disclosed that the security chiefs had previously been invited but were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. He emphasized that the rescheduled meeting would be crucial in addressing urgent security threats and shaping immediate policy responses.
As violent attacks escalate across Nigeria, public outrage has intensified, with fresh protests erupting in Enugu State following the brutal killing of a university student by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
According to SaharaReporters, The latest incident that fueled national concern was the killing of 29-year-old Donatus Ndubuisi, a student of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and a solar energy technician. He was reportedly shot dead on February 28, 2025, while assisting his widowed mother in harvesting cassava on their farm in Amofia Umuhu Eha-Amufu, Enugu State. Family sources revealed that Ndubuisi’s father had also been killed in a previous attack by suspected herdsmen.
His burial, held on Friday, was marked by grief and anger, as thousands of women from seven autonomous communities staged a massive protest, condemning the continued attacks by armed herdsmen and the apparent lack of security intervention. Protesters accused local authorities of turning a blind eye to the crisis, with some blaming government officials for profiting from the community’s suffering.
Beyond tackling the rising insecurity, the Senate is also set to probe allegations that certain international agencies may be financing terrorism in Nigeria. Lawmakers had earlier summoned security officials on February 19 to provide explanations regarding claims that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was linked to funding Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating within the country.
Next week’s meeting will assess these allegations, review Nigeria’s overall security challenges, and explore measures to curb the surge in violent attacks across various states.
The killing of Ndubuisi has once again brought to the forefront the issue of persistent attacks on farming communities. The protests in Eha-Amufu, led primarily by women, coincided with his burial and served as a powerful demonstration of the frustration felt by residents over continued violence and displacement.
More Read
However, the protests have also sparked political controversy. The chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Obiora Obeagu, dismissed the demonstrations as politically motivated, alleging that they were orchestrated by opposition groups to tarnish the image of Governor Peter Mbah’s administration. His remarks have been met with widespread criticism, with protesters insisting that their grievances are legitimate and rooted in real security concerns.
With tensions at an all-time high, all eyes are now on the Senate’s upcoming meeting with security chiefs, as Nigerians await concrete solutions to the country’s worsening security crisis.
