Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu has criticised the National Assembly of Nigeria for what she described as its silence following the killing of Nigerian soldiers by insurgents in Borno State.
Her remarks came after reports that militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction linked to Islamic State, carried out coordinated attacks in parts of the state, resulting in the deaths of an unconfirmed number of people, including soldiers.
Reacting in a post on her X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Yesufu lamented the growing number of soldiers being killed in the fight against insurgency and questioned the role of lawmakers in safeguarding the interests of Nigerians and ensuring the welfare of military personnel.
“We are losing our soldiers at a sickeningly alarming rate. Where is the National Assembly? They were voted in to represent the people and protect their interests,” she wrote.
“Who have they summoned to ask what is going on? What laws have they enacted to ensure soldiers and their families are protected?
“What happens to the families of our fallen heroes? What is the National Assembly doing to safeguard their interests?” she added.
Yesufu also criticised the Senate, stating: “It is one thing not to have an effective Commander-in-Chief; it is another disastrous thing to have a passive and controlled National Assembly.”
According to earlier reports, Ngoshe came under a coordinated attack around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday. The insurgents reportedly operated in the area until daybreak.
During the attack, militants stormed a military base belonging to the 82 Division Task Force Battalion under the 26 Brigade. They also reportedly attacked a camp for internally displaced persons in the community.
A source said the insurgents ransacked the town while searching for soldiers believed to be hiding in the area. They also allegedly set ablaze armoured tanks and military vehicles before fleeing with an undisclosed quantity of ammunition.
