The House of Representatives has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately implement a comprehensive and aggressive security strategy to dismantle bandit, terrorist and kidnapping networks operating across the country.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Ibe Osonwa, representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State, during plenary on Tuesday.
The motion, titled “A Call for Immediate Executive Action on the Surge in Banditry, the Daily Abduction of Schoolchildren and the Perilous Security Situation in Nigerian Schools and Places of Worship,” highlighted growing concerns over worsening insecurity and the increasing vulnerability of schools, worship centres and rural communities.
Presenting the motion, Osonwa expressed alarm over the escalating incidents of kidnappings, terrorism, banditry and violent attacks across various parts of the country, stressing that the Federal Government has a constitutional obligation to safeguard the lives and property of citizens.
He cited Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
The lawmaker lamented the continued abduction of schoolchildren in several states, warning that the trend has disrupted education and worsened the country’s out-of-school children crisis.
According to him, thousands of pupils have been forced out of classrooms due to fears of attacks, while many families continue to suffer the psychological and emotional consequences of kidnappings.
Osonwa also decried what he described as the systematic targeting of schools and places of worship by criminal groups, noting that institutions traditionally regarded as safe havens have increasingly become vulnerable to attacks.
He said worshippers across the country now face the risk of abduction, violence and death while participating in religious activities, thereby undermining constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of religion and conscience.
The lawmaker further highlighted the economic implications of the security crisis, stating that numerous businesses have shut down, farming communities have been abandoned and many households pushed deeper into poverty as a result of persistent attacks.
He argued that current security measures appear largely reactive and insufficient to effectively curb the activities of criminal elements, warning that the inability to decisively tackle insecurity could create the impression that parts of the country are gradually slipping out of government control.
Following deliberations, the House condemned in strong terms the continued banditry, mass abductions and attacks on schools, churches and communities across Nigeria.
The lawmakers resolved to transmit what they described as an urgent appeal to President Tinubu, reminding him of his constitutional responsibility as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to protect Nigerians and secure the nation.
The House specifically called for the immediate deployment of an aggressive, coordinated and sustained security strategy aimed at dismantling criminal strongholds, securing vulnerable educational institutions and places of worship, and ensuring the unconditional release of citizens held captive by kidnappers and terrorists.
In a further resolution, lawmakers stated that if the current administration fails to restore public confidence and significantly improve security within a clearly defined period, the nation’s service chiefs should honourably resign from their positions.
READ ALSO:Senate Gives BOA, NSPMC, REA One Week ultimatum over audit queries
The House also mandated its Committees on Defence, National Security and Intelligence, and Army to intensify oversight of the implementation of the resolutions and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.
Nigeria has continued to grapple with multiple security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom and communal conflicts, particularly in parts of the North-West, North-Central and North-East regions.
In recent years, high-profile abductions of students in states such as Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara have drawn national and international attention, prompting renewed calls for stronger measures to safeguard schools and vulnerable communities.
