By Monsurat Abisoye
The House of Representatives has summoned the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa; and officials of the Ministry of Finance, including Taiwo Oyedele, to appear before it over the worsening wave of kidnappings and insecurity in parts of the country.
The Green Chamber is seeking details of funds released to the Ministry of Defence over the past six months and an explanation for the perceived lack of corresponding improvements in security nationwide.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, Mr Sulaiman Gumi, during plenary on Tuesday.
Moving the motion, Gumi decried the deteriorating security situation in Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West, warning that persistent attacks by insurgents and bandits had triggered a humanitarian crisis compounded by prevailing economic hardship.
According to him, between June 1 and June 6, 2026, bandits riding on about 250 motorcycles, with three riders on each motorcycle, invaded communities in Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency and parts of Sokoto villages bordering Zamfara State, killing 93 people.
He further informed the House that on the night of June 2 into the early hours of June 3, seven students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, were abducted by bandits from their off-campus hostel.
Gumi also recalled that two senior lecturers of the same institution had earlier been kidnapped and held captive for more than two months despite ransom payments made for their release.
He cited another attack in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where four people were killed and several travellers abducted by bandits.
The lawmaker also reported that in Talata Mafara Local Government Area, a councillor and a director travelling from Jangebe to the local government headquarters over Hajj activities for intending pilgrims were abducted and later killed by their captors after the bandits allegedly refused to accept ransom payments.
Drawing attention to the wider regional impact of banditry, Gumi noted that the attacks had escalated in other North-West states, including Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Jigawa.
He recalled that on May 31, 2026, 17 villagers were killed when hundreds of bandits riding motorcycles attacked Dangulbi community in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to him, more than 15 communities in Tureta and Sabon Birni local government areas of Sokoto State have been deserted as a result of repeated bandit attacks.
Gumi further disclosed that a former Director of Defence Information of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Rabe Abubakar Batsari (retd.), and his wife were abducted on May 30, 2026, after their vehicle was ambushed along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He also informed the House that 50 elderly men were kidnapped in Zamfara State on Monday and remained in captivity.
The Zamfara lawmaker added that Kaduna State continues to grapple with frequent attacks, particularly in Kachia, Sanga and Birnin-Gwari local government areas, while rural communities in Kano State bordering Katsina have also witnessed fatalities, livestock rustling and abductions linked to bandit activities.
Expressing concern over the persistent movement of bandits across communities and states without effective resistance, Gumi warned that the trend undermines public confidence in the nation’s security architecture and could further devastate the socio-economic fortunes of the region if left unchecked.
Contributing to the debate, the member representing Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, Abubakar Yalleman, urged the National Assembly to expedite action on legislative proposals seeking the establishment of state police.
“I urge the National Assembly to expedite action on state police to help checkmate the deteriorating level of security in the country,” he said.
His position received support from the member representing Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Mr Olumide Osoba.
Also speaking, the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Mr Babajimi Benson, called on the Federal Government to revisit the cashless policy as a means of limiting ransom payments to kidnappers.
“It is important to revisit the cashless policy because it is difficult to pay ransom through bank transfers,” he said.
Similarly, the member representing Shomolu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Mr Ademorin Kuye, advocated stricter regulation of Bureau De Change operators and called for the prohibition of ransom payments.
“It is important for us to gazette the prohibition of ransom payment to kidnappers. The Central Bank of Nigeria should consider monitoring the activities of Bureau De Change operators to address illicit financial flows,” he advised.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House resolved to summon the affected government officials on a date yet to be announced.
The lawmakers also urged the Minister of Defence to deploy additional security personnel and operational equipment to Zamfara State and the wider North-West region to strengthen ongoing security operations.
In addition, the House called on the ministers responsible for agriculture, environment, education, humanitarian affairs and disaster management to explore non-kinetic approaches to addressing the country’s security challenges.
The House subsequently mandated its Committee on Defence and other relevant committees to ensure compliance with its resolutions and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.