The House of Representatives has summoned the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, and the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, for questioning over the spike in kidnappings across various parts of the country. Specifically, the House is seeking comprehensive details of the funds released to the Ministry of Defence over the past six months, alongside an explanation for the perceived lack of corresponding improvements in national security. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance brought on the floor of the Green Chamber by the member representing Gummi and Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, Mr Sulaiman Gumi, during plenary on Tuesday.
Speaking on the substance of the motion, the lawmaker lamented the deteriorating state of security in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West zone, noting that the campaign of violence by insurgents has left the entire region battling a severe humanitarian crisis, which has been worsened by harsh economic realities. He said, “The House is aware that between June 1 and 6, 2026, rampaging bandits riding on about 250 motorcycles with three riders each invaded Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency, and some parts of Sokoto villages bordering Zamfara State, killing 93 people.”
Gumi further highlighted several specific instances of recent lawlessness within his state to show the severity of the crisis. He stated, “The House is also aware that on the night of June 2, 2026, into the early hours of June 3, 2026, seven students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, were abducted by bandits at their off-campus students’ hostel.” He further added, “Earlier, two senior lecturers of the same polytechnic were kidnapped and held in captivity for more than two months, despite ransom payments for their release.”
The lawmaker also expressed concern over targeted attacks on travelers and local officials within the state. He noted, “We are aware of the violent attack by bandits on Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where four people were killed and several travellers abducted.” Highlighting another tragic event, he said, “In Talata Marafa Local Government Area, a councillor and a director were abducted while travelling from Jangebe to the local government headquarters over Hajj activities for intending pilgrims from Jangebe. The bandits killed both of them after refusing to collect any ransom.”
Gumi also drew the attention of his colleagues to the dangerous expansion of bandit activities into other Northwest states, including Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, and Jigawa. He recalled, “On May 31, 2026, 17 villagers were killed when bandits in their hundreds and riding on motorcycles invaded Dangulbi community in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State,” while observing that more than 15 communities in the Tureta and Sabon Birni local government areas of Sokoto State have been completely deserted due to constant bandit raids. He added that a former Director of Defence Information of the Nigerian Army, Major General Rabe Abubakar Batsari (retired), and his wife were abducted when their vehicle was ambushed along the Marabar Musawa to Kafinsoli road in the Matazu Local Government Area on May 30, 2026.
Underscoring the immediate gravity of the security situation, the lawmaker remarked, “Just yesterday (Monday), 50 elderly men were kidnapped and are still held captive in Zamfara State.” He continued, “In Kaduna State, bandit attacks remain a significant security challenge, with recent incidents heavily concentrated in areas like Kachia, Sanga and Birnin-Gwari Local Government Areas, while in Kano State, bandit attacks have primarily impacted rural communities sharing borders with neighbouring Katsina State, with the most severe incidents resulting in fatalities, livestock rustling, and abductions.” He expressed deep concern that the continuous, unchallenged movement of bandits between towns, states, and their hideouts severely undermined the credibility of national security, warning that if the trend is left unchecked, more lives will be lost and the socio-economic fortunes of the region will be ruined.
Contributing to the legislative debate, a Jigawa lawmaker, Abubakar Yalleman, called for a speedy consideration of all pending legislative proposals aimed at establishing state police. He said, “I urge the National Assembly to expedite action on state police to help checkmate the deteriorating level of security in the country,” a position that was strongly backed by his Ogun counterpart, Mr Olumide Osoba. Also speaking on the motion, the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Babajimi Benson, urged the Federal Government to revisit the cashless policy as a tactical way of restricting the payment of cash to kidnappers. Benson noted, “It is important to revisit the cashless policy because it is difficult to pay ransom through bank transfers,”
Similarly, the member representing Shomolu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Ademorin Kuye, advocated for strict regulations on the operations of Bureau De Change operators alongside other financial monitoring measures. He advised, “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,”
Following the extensive deliberations and the adoption of the motion, the House resolved to summon the top government officials to appear before it at a date to be announced soon. The Green Chamber also urged the Minister of Defence to immediately deploy adequate security personnel and necessary operational equipment to Zamfara State and the wider Northwest region to strengthen local security. Furthermore, it urged the ministers of agriculture, environment, education, humanitarian affairs and disaster management to explore non-kinetic options to comprehensively address the root causes of insecurity in the country. The House thereafter mandated its Committee on Defence along with other relevant committees to ensure strict compliance with the resolution and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.
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