Here is the front-page version starting from the rescue angle, as you requested:
Senate Demands Immediate Rescue of 416 Boko Haram Hostages as Security Crisis Deepens
By John Akubo, Abuja
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday issued an urgent call for the immediate rescue of 416 citizens reportedly held by Boko Haram, declaring the situation a national emergency as insecurity in the North-East escalates.
Lawmakers said the abducted victims—mostly women, children, and the elderly—must be prioritised for swift military action, following revelations that insurgents had issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding a ₦5 billion ransom.
The demand dominated a tense plenary session that quickly expanded into broader concerns over worsening insecurity and repeated attacks on military formations in Borno State.
Senators warned that the scale of abductions and killings reflects a deepening breakdown in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations and intelligence response system.
The urgency intensified after Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno described recent attacks on military bases in Monguno and Benisheikh as “deliberate and strategic,” aimed at weakening state control over key corridors such as the Damaturu–Maiduguri route.
In a solemn moment, lawmakers observed a minute of silence for 17 military personnel killed in the March 3 attacks, including Brigadier-General Oseni Braimoh, Colonel Mohammed Isya, Captain A.M. Esmat, and Lieutenant Kelvin Festus.
But the session soon shifted into alarm and frustration as Senator Ali Ndume disclosed the ransom ultimatum tied to the 416 captives, triggering outrage across the chamber.
Bauchi Senator Abdul Ningi said Nigeria was “not doing enough” to confront the crisis, calling for extraordinary measures, including stronger legislative oversight of security operations in volatile areas.
“We must take extraordinary measures. This is no longer business as usual,” Ningi said.
Senator Diket Plang warned that sustained attacks on both civilian and military targets were part of a broader strategy to instill fear, weaken public confidence, and expand insurgent influence.
Despite acknowledging the sacrifices of the armed forces, the Senate said repeated assaults were eroding gains made in the North-East and threatening food systems, displacement recovery, and national stability.
Lawmakers subsequently directed the Armed Forces to urgently review operational strategies, audit equipment and readiness levels, and strengthen intelligence-driven responses.
They also called for strict adherence to humanitarian law and ordered investigations into alleged civilian casualties during military operations.
The Senate further urged emergency agencies, including NEMA, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the North East Development Commission, to immediately scale up humanitarian support for displaced communities.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin acknowledged the severity of the situation, noting that insecurity in the region now reflects a wider West African security challenge. He assured lawmakers that the federal government was increasing military funding, arms supply, and operational support.
Still, the chamber remained firmly focused on one priority: the rescue of the 416 abducted Nigerians.
“This cannot wait,” one senator said, underscoring the urgency of a crisis that continues to test the nation’s security framework.
₦5bn Ransom Shocker: Senate Demands Emergency Rescue of 416 Captives
