President Bola Tinubu has been urged to immediately deploy a comprehensive and aggressive security strategy to flush out bandits and kidnappers from their hideouts and restore safety across the country amid worsening insecurity.
The House of Representatives made the called during plenary session on Tuesday, 9 June, 2026 following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ibe Osonwa, who represents Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Osonwa, moving 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,” expressed concern over the escalating wave of kidnappings, banditry and attacks on vulnerable communities nationwide.
The lawmaker reminded the Federal Government of its constitutional responsibility to protect citizens, citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
He lamented the growing trend of attacks on schools, noting that “the abduction of schoolchildren across several parts of the country has disrupted education and deepened Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis.”
According to him, “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 elements, warning that institutions traditionally regarded as safe havens have increasingly become soft targets for bandits and kidnappers.
He said worshippers across the country now face the risk of attacks, abductions and killings while observing religious activities, a situation he noted undermines citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Osonwa also painted a grim picture of the economic consequences of insecurity, stating that “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.”
Expressing concern over the effectiveness of the nation’s security architecture despite huge budgetary allocations to the defence and security sectors, the lawmaker argued that the current response appeared largely reactive and insufficient to stem the operations of criminal groups.
The lawmaker also warned that the apparent inability to decisively confront bandits and terrorists had created the impression that government was losing control of parts of the country.
Following deliberations, the House condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the continued banditry, mass abductions and attacks on schools and churches across Nigeria.
The lawmakers resolved to transmit “an urgent and solemn 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 House specifically demanded the immediate deployment of “an aggressive, unrelenting and comprehensive security strategy” to dismantle bandits’ strongholds, secure vulnerable schools and places of worship, and ensure the unconditional release of citizens held captive by criminal groups.
In a strongly worded resolution, the lawmakers declared that if the administration proves unable to halt the worsening security situation and restore public confidence within a clearly defined timeframe, the 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.
