Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during the special plenary session on national security at the House of Representatives, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Tuesday held a special plenary session on national security, calling on Nigerians to remain calm while urging structural, legislative, and proactive measures to address escalating insecurity across the country.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas emphasized that fear must not dictate daily life as violent attacks continue, citing recent incidents including the abduction of students in Niger State and the kidnapping of worshippers in Kwara State.
“These attacks are designed to instill fear, weaken public confidence, and give the illusion that violent groups are everywhere at once. Nigeria must reject this tactic. We must resist fear and stand firm against those who rely on cruelty to advance their evil agendas,” Abbas said.
He praised the swift response of security forces that rescued worshippers and students and observed a minute of silence for officers who lost their lives in service. The Speaker also cautioned Nigerians against spreading misinformation, urging reliance on official sources and reputable media outlets.
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Abbas highlighted reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the liberation of captives, neutralization of high-ranking violent actors, and the return of displaced persons.
House Leader Professor Julius C. Ihonvbere presented a detailed regional analysis of insecurity:
- Northeast: Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks persist, displacing over 1.5 million people.
- Northwest: Banditry continues; military operations such as Operation Hardin Daji and Operation Thunderstrike are ongoing.
- North-Central: Spillover violence displaces communities; Operations Wild Stroke and Agro Rangers protect farmers.
- Southeast: Separatist groups including IPOB target infrastructure and businesses; dialogue and political solutions continue.
- South-South: Militancy has reduced due to engagement with ex-militants.
Ihonvbere stressed that multi-faceted responses, combining military action, community engagement, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs, are essential, with broader implications for West Africa.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu warned that military responses alone are insufficient, calling for legislative and structural reforms to bridge gaps in enforcement, coordination, and policy consistency. He proposed:
- Banning unstructured amnesty deals and ransom payments to prevent criminal networks from being emboldened.
- Police reform with transparent, audited, and predictable funding for state and community policing.
- Regulation of military technology through a Drone Act to ensure ethical use, accountability, and civilian protection.
- Strengthened parliamentary oversight of security operations, disarmament programs, and community policing.
“We cannot negotiate with those who kidnap our children or terrorize our communities. Our laws must be enforced, and parliament must take the lead in structured, enforceable reforms,” Kalu said, emphasizing the economic and social impacts of insecurity.
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda urged lawmakers to rise above political, religious, and personal divides, advocating a unified national strategy. He called for technology-driven school security, early-warning systems, a technologically enabled national border force, weapons mop-up operations, and robust parliamentary oversight.
“We must remove tribe, religion, selfishness, pride, and anything that will prevent us from succeeding. We have the ability to solve this problem. But we must see ourselves as one,” Chinda said, highlighting the human dimension of insecurity and the importance of community-led peacebuilding. The session demonstrates strong parliamentary support for government security operations, emphasizing unity, proactive legislation, intelligence sharing, and community engagement as essential tools to restore safety and stability across Nigeria
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