Senate Raises Alarm Over Attacks on Retired Military Officers

The Nigerian Senate convened on Tuesday to address the alarming trend of attacks on military personnel, particularly targeting retired officers, which poses a significant threat to national stability and public confidence in the country's security architecture. This concern was heightened following the abduction and subsequent death of retired Major General Alkali Abubakar on May 30, 2026, alongside his wife in Katsina State.

The Senate observed a minute of silence in honor of the late military officer and emphasized the need for urgent action. Lawmakers cited several incidents from January 2023 to May 2026, including the murder of retired Major General Richard Duru in Owerri and the abduction of Brigadier General O.M.

Harlord Udokwer in Abuja. The Senate warned that the increasing frequency of these attacks represents a troubling shift in Nigeria's security challenges and called for enhanced intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and technological deployment to prevent future incidents.

The ongoing wave of kidnappings and killings across the country underscores the urgent need for a coordinated national security response.