The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has called on President Bola Tinubu to take urgent action to stop the rising wave of terrorism, banditry, killings and mass abductions across Northern Nigeria.
The lawmakers warned that the scale of attacks on communities had reached an unacceptable level, saying the continued loss of lives and displacement of residents were creating fear and a growing sense of helplessness among Nigerians in affected areas.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the caucus, led by Fredrick Agbedi, with Afam Ogene as spokesman, called for sustained military and security operations driven by actionable intelligence to reclaim communities and territories controlled by terrorists and criminal groups.
The lawmakers said recent attacks in Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, Kaduna and Katsina states showed the worsening security situation in the region.
They cited several attacks in which dozens of residents were reportedly killed or abducted.
According to the caucus, at least 23 people were killed in recent violence in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The lawmakers also raised concerns over an attack on communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, where armed men reportedly abducted more than 60 worshippers during Friday prayers.
In Sokoto State, the caucus said at least 40 people were killed in Ungushi community, Kebbe Local Government Area, including the Chief Imam, Imam Aliyu.
It further said about 30 people were killed when gunmen attacked Naridon village in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The lawmakers said repeated attacks and reprisal killings in Katsina State had also increased fear among residents.
They also expressed concern over the continued absence of schoolchildren abducted from Borno State months ago, saying the fate of the children remained a serious national concern.
The caucus said the situation could no longer be addressed mainly through statements condemning attacks after they occurred.
“This is no longer a situation that can be addressed principally through statements of condemnation after every attack,” the lawmakers said.
They called on the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to order a sustained security campaign based on intelligence gathering, military operations and effective coordination among security agencies.
The lawmakers urged Tinubu to expand the strategy used in the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to other parts of the country facing similar threats.
They said affected areas should be placed under intensive security operations, with the armed forces and other security agencies directed to dominate the territory and sustain operations against terrorist and bandit camps.
The lawmakers stressed that the purpose should not be to restrict innocent residents but to limit the freedom of criminal groups to operate.
“We are calling on the President to lock down the affected theatres of operation, dominate the territory and sweep the forests, hideouts and criminal enclaves where terrorists and bandits operate,” they said.
They added that the operations must be intelligence-led, professionally executed and sustained until terrorists and bandits were defeated and abducted citizens rescued.
According to the caucus, security forces should deny criminal groups access to their supply routes and communication networks and prevent them from moving freely between communities.
The lawmakers argued that the continuing attacks were not only a security problem but also an economic threat.
Northern communities depend heavily on farming and other rural activities, and repeated attacks have forced many residents to abandon their homes and farmlands.
The displacement of farmers can reduce food production and worsen the cost of food at a time when many Nigerian households are already struggling with high living costs.
The lawmakers also urged Tinubu to personally visit communities affected by insecurity.
They specifically asked the President to visit Zamfara State and travel to Illela to meet residents affected by attacks.
The caucus said a physical visit by the President would send a strong message to affected communities that the Federal Government was determined to protect them.
It added that such a visit could help restore confidence among residents who have lived under the threat of terrorists and bandits for years.
Beyond military action, the lawmakers called for a major increase in funding for the national security campaign.
They proposed that the Federal Government should consider using $5 billion from the country’s external reserves if additional funds were required for an extraordinary security intervention.
“If funding is an issue, the government should draw $5bn from the nation’s external reserves for an extraordinary national security intervention,” the caucus said.
The lawmakers argued that protecting lives and livelihoods was the most important responsibility of government and that no expenditure was more important than securing citizens.
The call for increased security funding comes amid continuing demands for better equipment, intelligence, logistics and welfare for members of the armed forces and other security agencies.
The caucus welcomed the recent increase in the salaries of members of the Armed Forces, describing it as an important step towards improving their welfare and morale.
However, the lawmakers urged the President to forward the required amendment to the 2026 Appropriation Act and a Supplementary Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly without delay.
They said the legislative measures were necessary to provide the legal and financial backing required to implement the salary increase.
The lawmakers added that the National Assembly should be ready to reconvene, if necessary, to ensure that the welfare package was implemented without unnecessary delays.
The caucus also raised concerns over the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing the development as increasingly taking on the character of political persecution.
It called for his immediate release and said the matter raised questions about the consistency of the Federal Government’s anti-corruption campaign.
“Our concern is not merely about one individual. It is about the credibility and consistency of the Federal Government’s anti-corruption campaign,” the lawmakers said.
The caucus also criticised the composition of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, particularly the involvement of people who, according to the lawmakers, had faced corruption allegations and other public controversies.
It argued that their prominent positions in the President’s political structure could weaken public confidence in the administration’s anti-corruption efforts.
The lawmakers said the government would find it difficult to convince Nigerians that its anti-corruption campaign was impartial if people facing serious allegations were playing important roles in its political activities.
However, the caucus said the immediate priority remained the worsening security situation and the need to protect citizens.
Northern Nigeria has for years faced attacks by terrorist organisations and bandit groups, particularly in rural communities. Kidnapping for ransom has also become a major concern, with criminals targeting farmers, travellers, students, worshippers and entire communities.
The violence has disrupted education, farming, trade and other economic activities while forcing thousands of people to seek refuge in safer communities and internally displaced persons’ camps.
The latest appeal by the lawmakers therefore places renewed pressure on the Federal Government to strengthen its response and demonstrate that security agencies have the capacity to protect vulnerable communities.
The caucus said the government must move beyond reacting to individual attacks and focus on dismantling the networks, logistics and territories that allow criminal groups to continue operating.
It insisted that the government must restore security to affected communities and ensure that those abducted are rescued.
“The bloodshed in Northern Nigeria must stop. The abducted must be rescued. The terrorists and bandits must be defeated,” the lawmakers said.