The Senate has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to declare total war on the Boko Haram insurgents.

This resolution was taken after an extensive debate on the state of insecurity in the country.

Coming back from recess, lawmakers immediately got down to work and the motion on “Threat to National Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Nigeria by Insurgents”, was moved by Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba.

The Senate, after its debate, resolved that the President declaring a total war on the Boko Haram sect was the only way to put an end to their terror acts in the country.

They noted that Boko Haram itself had launched a full scale war against the Nigerian state when it “moved from kidnapping, killing of people and destruction of property to occupation of parts of Nigerian territory.”

The Senate President, David Mark, in his speech touched on the growing atrocities of the Boko Haram sect and the need for decisive action on the part of government.

He said that it was not time for trading blame but for a united front against the insurgents.

Senator Mark stated, “There is no difference between what Boko Haram is doing against Nigeria and what an enemy country waging war against Nigeria would have done.

“The issue is beyond that of mere internal security. It is about how we execute the war. If Boko Haram has captured most parts of the country we represent and has created a caliphate, it means that some of the senators from those areas can no longer be in this chamber. This is why we must pay urgent attention to the matter.”

On the impact of the insurgency on Nigeria’s 2015 general elections, Mark said, “There is no question of election, it is not even on the table now. We are in a state of war. All of us cannot carry guns to fight, but we all have roles to play in bringing the situation to an end.”

The motion was passed unanimously with the Senate resolving to send a delegation to President Goodluck Jonathan on the matter.

The House Of Representatives also considered a motion on the matter and resolved to also meet with the President.

This was after the House went into a closed door meeting that lasted over one hour.