Nigeria’s House of Representatives has summoned National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa and tax policy official Taiwo Oyedele over rising insecurity and kidnappings across parts of the country.
Lawmakers are seeking details of funds released to the Ministry of Defence over the past six months and an explanation for what they described as a lack of corresponding improvements in security.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Sulaiman Gumi, who represents Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State.
Presenting the motion on Tuesday, Gumi cited a series of deadly attacks by armed gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, in Zamfara and other states in Nigeria’s northwest region.
According to the lawmaker, between June 1 and June 6, armed attackers riding about 250 motorcycles killed 93 people in communities across Gummi and Bukkuyum local government areas of Zamfara State and neighboring villages in Sokoto State.
He also said seven students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, were abducted from an off-campus hostel on June 2, while two lecturers from the institution had earlier been kidnapped and held for more than two months despite ransom payments.
Gumi further cited attacks in Zurmi and Talata Mafara local government areas of Zamfara State, where several people were killed or abducted. He said two local officials were kidnapped and later killed after their captors reportedly rejected ransom offers.
The lawmaker said attacks had also intensified in Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Jigawa states.
He referenced a May 31 attack in Sokoto State in which 17 villagers were killed in Dangulbi community, adding that more than 15 communities in Tureta and Sabon Birni local government areas had been abandoned because of persistent violence.
Gumi also noted the abduction of retired Maj. Gen. Rabe Abubakar Batsari, a former Director of Defence Information, and his wife in Katsina State on May 30.
He said 50 elderly men were kidnapped in Zamfara State on Monday and remain in captivity.
Lawmakers expressed concern over the ability of armed groups to move freely across communities and state boundaries, warning that continued attacks could further undermine security and economic activities in the region.
During the debate, Rep. Abubakar Yalleman of Jigawa State urged the National Assembly to accelerate consideration of bills seeking the establishment of state police. The call was supported by Rep. Olumide Osoba of Ogun State.
Rep. Babajimi Benson of Lagos State called on the federal government to revisit aspects of its cashless policy, arguing that it could make ransom payments more difficult to facilitate.
Rep. Ademorin Kuye also urged stricter regulation of Bureau De Change operators and called for the formal prohibition of ransom payments to kidnappers.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House resolved to summon the affected government officials on a date yet to be announced.
Lawmakers also urged the Defence Ministry to deploy additional personnel and equipment to Zamfara and other parts of the northwest, while calling on ministries responsible for agriculture, environment, education and humanitarian affairs to explore non-military approaches to addressing insecurity.
The House mandated its Committee on Defence and other relevant committees to monitor implementation and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.
