National Assembly Erupts in Rare Rebellion Over Security Strategy
In an unprecedented display of dissent, Nigerian lawmakers launched sharp criticism against President Bola Tinubu's handling of the escalating bandit crisis during a tense parliamentary session on Wednesday, November 26. Senators and House members broke from their usual alignment with the executive branch to condemn the government's approach to dealing with armed groups responsible for multiple mass abductions across several states.
The legislative rebellion came as President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency earlier the same day. The president directed armed forces, police, and intelligence agencies to expand recruitment and deploy thousands of new personnel to areas most affected by the attacks.
School Abductions Trigger Widespread Closures
The security crisis intensified dramatically after bandits raided St Mary's Catholic School in Niger State, abducting more than 300 pupils and 12 teachers. This attack occurred just days after gunmen seized 24 students from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State.
During the Kebbi assault, vice principal Hasan Makuku was killed and the principal sustained injuries. While approximately 50 girls managed to escape, many remain in captivity. These incidents prompted numerous states including Kebbi, Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Niger, Katsina, and Kwara to order widespread school closures. The Federal Government additionally shut down 41 Federal Unity Colleges as a precautionary measure.
In a separate incident in Kwara State, a gang stormed a church, killed two people, and kidnapped 38 others before the victims were freed on Sunday. Students from the earlier school attacks regained their freedom on Tuesday.
Lawmakers Demand Accountability for Troop Withdrawal
Legislators specifically rejected any form of negotiation with the attackers and demanded full accountability for the troop withdrawal that preceded the kidnapping of 24 students in Kebbi State. Many lawmakers insisted that the Federal Government's tactics risked strengthening the criminal elements rather than neutralizing them.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe directly challenged the administration, demanding answers about who authorized the troop withdrawal in Kebbi. The Senate held a heated debate where lawmakers warned that the nation was "under attack" and in danger of losing public confidence. Some legislators renewed calls for implementing the death penalty for convicted kidnappers.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin urged international support to combat the crisis, while Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele emphasized that the moment required decisive structural reforms and asked the Senate to review its own security committee.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio cautioned against portraying the crisis in religious terms, stating that the attacks targeted the entire nation rather than specific religious communities.
Presidency Defends Security Approach
The Presidency has defended its actions against the growing criticism. Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed claims that ransom payments were made to secure the release of abducted victims. He explained that captors typically use victims as human shields to prevent military attacks.
"They go about abducting our people, and they use them as a shield so they will not be attacked," Onanuga stated, defending the government's cautious approach to rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State claimed he possesses the capacity to end banditry within two months if granted direct control over security agencies. The governor asserted that he knows the precise locations of bandits terrorizing the state but cited specific limitations preventing him from taking direct action.
The security emergency declaration includes President Tinubu's call for the National Assembly to begin the process of legalizing state police, recognizing the need for more localized security solutions to address the widespread violence affecting multiple regions simultaneously.
