Reps Ask Tinubu To Crush Bandits, End School Abductions

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ABUJA – The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately deploy a comprehensive and aggressive se­curity strategy to dismantle bandit networks, end the recurring abduc­tion of schoolchildren and restore public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Arochuk­wu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State, Ibe Osonwa, during plenary.

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 worsening wave of kidnappings, bandit attacks and assaults on vulnerable communi­ties across the country.

The lawmaker reminded the Federal Government of its consti­tutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property, 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 lamented the growing pat­tern of attacks on educational institutions, warning that the con­tinued abduction of students was undermining access to education and worsening Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis.

According to him, “The ab­duction of schoolchildren across several parts of the country has disrupted education and deepened Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis.”

He added that “thousands of children have been forced out of classrooms due to fear of attacks, while many families continue to grapple with the trauma of kid­nappings and prolonged captivity of loved ones.”

Osonwa further decried what he described as the systematic tar­geting of schools and places of wor­ship by criminal groups, noting that institutions traditionally regarded as safe spaces had increasingly be­come vulnerable to attacks.

He warned that worshippers across the country now face the risk of abductions, killings and other forms of violence while observing religious activities, a development he said threatens citizens’ constitu­tional rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

The lawmaker also highlighted the economic toll of the security cri­sis, arguing that persistent attacks have disrupted livelihoods, dis­placed farming communities and forced many families into poverty.

According to him, “Many businesses have shut down, farm­ing communities have been de­serted and families plunged into poverty as they struggle to raise ransom payments for abducted relatives.”

Osonwa expressed concern that despite substantial budgetary allocations to defence and security agencies over the years, the nation’s response to insecurity appeared largely reactive and insufficient to effectively confront criminal elements.

He warned that the inability to decisively defeat bandits and ter­rorist groups was creating the per­ception that the government was gradually losing control of parts of the country.

Following deliberations, the House condemned in strong terms the continued banditry, mass ab­ductions and attacks on schools and places of worship across Nigeria.

The lawmakers resolved to transmit what they described as “an urgent and solemn appeal” to President Tinubu, reminding him of his constitutional obligation as commander-in-chief of the armed forces to protect the lives and prop­erty of Nigerians.

The House specifically urged the president to order the immedi­ate deployment of “an aggressive, unrelenting and comprehensive security strategy” aimed at dis­mantling bandits’ hideouts, secur­ing vulnerable schools and worship centres, and ensuring the uncondi­tional release of citizens being held captive by criminal groups.

In one of its most strongly worded resolutions on the coun­try’s security situation, the House stated that if the administration fails to halt the deteriorating secu­rity conditions and restore public confidence within a clearly defined timeframe, the nation’s service chiefs should “honourably resign from office, having failed to fulfil the primary purpose of government as mandated by the constitution.”

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 continues to grapple with multiple security threats, including banditry, terrorism, kid­napping for ransom and commu­nal violence, particularly in parts of the North-West, North-Central and North-East. In recent years, mass abductions of students from schools in Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara and other states have attracted national and international atten­tion, prompting repeated calls for stronger measures to protect educa­tional institutions and vulnerable communities.