The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately deploy a comprehensive and aggressive security strategy aimed at flushing out bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements from their hideouts across the country amid worsening insecurity.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved during plenary by Ibe Osonwa, who represents Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Presenting 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,” Osonwa expressed deep concern over the escalating wave of insecurity ravaging several parts of the country.
The lawmaker lamented the growing incidents of kidnappings, attacks on schools, banditry, killings, and assaults on vulnerable communities, warning that the situation had continued to instill fear among citizens and threaten national stability.
According to him, schools, worship centres, highways, and rural communities have increasingly become targets of criminal groups, thereby creating widespread panic and disrupting socio-economic activities.
Osonwa reminded the Federal Government of its constitutional obligation to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, citing 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.”
He argued that the continued deterioration of the country’s security situation requires urgent and decisive executive intervention to prevent further loss of lives and restore public confidence.
The lawmaker particularly decried the persistent abduction of schoolchildren in different parts of the country, describing the attacks as a grave threat to the nation’s educational system and the future of Nigerian children.
According to him, many parents now live in fear of sending their children to school due to recurring incidents of mass kidnappings and attacks on educational institutions.
He also expressed concern over attacks on places of worship and communities, saying innocent citizens have continued to suffer despite repeated assurances from security agencies and government officials.
Osonwa stressed that beyond military operations, there was a need for improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency collaboration, enhanced surveillance technology, and increased support for security personnel across the country.
He further urged the Federal Government to strengthen security presence in rural communities and vulnerable areas where criminal groups often operate freely.
During deliberations on the motion, several lawmakers reportedly voiced concern over the worsening insecurity situation and called for more decisive action from the executive arm of government.
Members noted that the rising activities of bandits and kidnappers had not only endangered lives but also negatively affected farming, business activities, education, and religious freedom in many communities.
Some lawmakers warned that continued attacks on schools could worsen the country’s out-of-school children crisis and deepen poverty and social instability.
Others emphasized the need for a coordinated national security architecture capable of responding swiftly to emerging threats across the federation.
Following extensive debate, the House unanimously adopted the motion and urged the President to immediately direct security agencies to intensify operations against criminal groups terrorising communities nationwide.
The lawmakers also called for enhanced protection of schools and places of worship, as well as the implementation of proactive security measures to prevent future attacks.
The House further urged relevant security authorities to identify and dismantle criminal hideouts while ensuring that perpetrators of kidnappings and banditry are arrested and prosecuted.
Observers say the latest resolution reflects growing concern within the National Assembly over the persistent security challenges confronting the country despite ongoing military and police operations.
Nigeria has continued to grapple with widespread insecurity in recent years, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, communal clashes, and attacks on educational institutions, particularly in parts of the North-West, North-Central, and North-East regions.
The repeated abduction of students and attacks on schools have drawn both national and international condemnation, with stakeholders calling for stronger government action to guarantee the safety of citizens and educational facilities.
Political analysts say the House’s latest intervention is likely to increase pressure on the Federal Government to adopt more robust and coordinated measures to tackle insecurity and restore public confidence in the nation’s security institutions.
