The representatives urged Tinubu to expel the terrorists and kidnappers

The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged President Bola Tinubu to come up with a comprehensive and aggressive security strategy to flush out bandits, terrorists and kidnappers from their hideouts in the country.

The call follows the adoption of an urgent public interest motion tabled by the lawmaker representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in Abia, Ibe Osonwa, during a plenary session in Abuja.

The motion was titled, “A Call for Immediate Executive Action against the Surge in Banditry, Daily Kidnappings of School Children, and the Dangerous Security Situation in Nigerian Schools and Places of Worship.”

Osonwa however reiterated calls to the President from several other sources to restore security across the country amidst worsening insecurity.

He expressed concern over the increasing wave of kidnappings, banditry, terrorism and attacks on vulnerable communities across the country.

Osonwa reminded the Federal Government of its constitutional responsibility to protect citizens, citing Article 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

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The lawmaker explained that the quoted passage states that “the security and well-being of the people must be the government’s primary goal.”

He deplored the increasing trend of attacks on schools, and stated that “kidnapping of school children in some areas of the country has disrupted education and deepened the crisis of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

According to him, thousands of children were forced out of classrooms for fear of attacks, while many families continued to grapple with the trauma of kidnapping.

Osonwa condemned the systematic targeting of schools and places of worship by criminal elements and warned that institutions traditionally considered safe havens were now increasingly becoming easy targets for bandits and kidnappers.

He said worshipers across the country now face the risk of attacks, kidnapping and murder while carrying out religious activities, which undermines citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

The lawmaker also painted a grim picture of the consequences of insecurity on the economy, stating that “many businesses have closed, farming communities have been abandoned and many families have fallen into poverty.”

Osonwa argued that current security responses appear largely reactive and insufficient to contain the operations of criminal groups.

He warned that the inability to deal decisively with bandits and terrorists had created the impression that the government was losing control over some parts of the country to criminal elements.

After deliberations, the House of Representatives condemned “in the strongest terms” the continued banditry, mass kidnappings and attacks on schools and churches across Nigeria.

The lawmakers resolved to make an “urgent and serious appeal” to President Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, “reminding him of his oath to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.”

The DPR specifically demanded the implementation of an “aggressive, unrelenting and comprehensive security strategy” to dismantle the bandits’ strongholds, secure schools and vulnerable places of worship.