Reps Raise Alarm Over Growing Insecurity

Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday addressed the growing insecurity across Nigeria at the National Assembly in Abuja, calling on the Federal Government to act quickly because ongoing killings, kidnappings, and attacks by bandits have increased fear among citizens and weakened trust in public safety institutions.

During the plenary session, lawmakers described how Nigerians now travel in fear and often pray for loved ones to arrive safely at their destinations. They said the situation is no longer limited to one region or religion, as political violence, porous borders, economic hardship, and extremist beliefs have all contributed to the crisis. They also accused politicians of bringing people across poorly guarded borders for political purposes, which they said has worsened insecurity.

The lawmakers called for the creation of a National Border Force supported by modern technology and pushed for the introduction of state and community policing to help secure local areas. They also asked that security service chiefs be summoned to explain what steps are being taken to address the situation and to hear the concerns of ordinary Nigerians.

The Deputy Speaker noted that while Nigeria has laws meant to discourage crime, poor implementation, lack of funding, and weak coordination between policy and action have made these laws ineffective. He proposed changes to laws to stop unofficial ransom payments to kidnappers, improve police funding transparency, and provide legal backing for military drone operations. He also warned against negotiating with bandits, saying it encourages more crimes.

The House Leader shared statistics showing that Nigeria now records tens of thousands of violent incidents each year, with thousands of deaths recorded in 2024 alone. He said banditry in the North-West has grown into organised terrorism, Boko Haram and ISWAP remain active in the North-East, and over one million Nigerians are living in displacement camps. According to him, although the government has made efforts, they are not enough without stronger non-military approaches such as arrests, prosecutions, rehabilitation, and reintegration of offenders.

Lawmakers from the northern region described the situation in their communities as very serious, saying people live in constant fear and despair. They said farmers are unable to work on their farms, traders are afraid to open their shops, and worshippers no longer feel safe in places of worship. Concerns were also raised about how peaceful elections could be held in 2027 if insecurity continues to spread.

Representatives from the South-South also spoke about rising kidnappings and killings in Delta and nearby states. They said the police lack vehicles and proper equipment to respond to crime and added that some local motorcycle and tricycle operators assist criminals by giving them information and running errands. They also criticised the practice of posting officers to areas where they cannot understand the local language, making it harder to fight crime.

While some lawmakers suggested drastic measures such as shutting down the House until action is taken, the leadership of the chamber rejected the idea, stating that the parliament must remain active and serve as the solution by pushing for reforms and holding authorities accountable.