The worsening security situation in Nigeria has triggered rare public dissent within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as lawmaker Alhassan Ado-Doguwa called for the shutdown of the National Assembly unless urgent action is taken to address the crisis.
Parliamentary Drama Over Security Failures
During a special plenary session convened to review Nigeria's national security situation, Doguwa, who chairs the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), launched a stinging critique of President Bola Tinubu's administration. The lawmaker declared that the parliament should be shut down if the government fails to restore order and peace in volatile areas.
Doguwa described the nation as operating under "complete war against humanity" and insisted that the government's best efforts were no longer sufficient. While acknowledging ongoing operations by security agencies, the former Majority Leader said President Tinubu's government had fallen short of its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
"The situation, especially in the North where I come from, is devastating, unspeakable and tragically unbearable," Doguwa stated during his emotional address. He warned that the deepening security crisis risked derailing political stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Fresh Attacks Hit Multiple States
Doguwa's protestation came as fresh attacks were reported in Kwara and Kano states. The Kwara State Police Command confirmed that 10 people were kidnapped at Isapa in the Ekiti Local Council area, correcting earlier reports that had put the number at 11.
According to police spokesperson Adetou Ejire-Adeyemi, armed men suspected to be herders invaded the village around 6:05 PM on November 24, shooting sporadically. One woman sustained gunshot wounds but has been treated and discharged. The Commissioner of Police has visited the community for an on-the-spot assessment and assured residents of intensified efforts to rescue the victims.
In a separate incident, armed bandits attacked Biresawa village in Tsanyawa Local Council of Kano State, abducting eight residents in a midnight raid. A source revealed that the attackers seized two men and six women, with no news of their whereabouts since the assault.
Kabiru Usman, a relative of some victims, said the gunmen struck from neighbouring Tsundu village. "They came on foot, armed with guns. They kidnapped my wife, my 17-year-old daughter, my brother's wife, and two other women," he lamented.
Presidential Response and Security Measures
In response to the escalating crisis, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a 24-hour aerial security cordon around forests in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger states. According to his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the President directed the Nigerian Air Force to intensify aerial surveillance over the deepest stretches of forests where criminals are believed to be hiding.
The operation will run around the clock, with air assets maintaining constant communication and coordination with ground troops. Communities in the affected regions have been urged to provide timely intelligence on suspicious movements to assist security forces.
On a positive note, Kebbi State Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris announced that the 24 girls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga have regained their freedom. President Tinubu expressed relief at their release but emphasized the need for "more boots on the ground in vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping."
Regional Security Responses Intensify
The Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps, has begun 24-hour patrols of border communities and deployed operatives to schools with boarding facilities. Commander Adetunji Adeleye announced that enhanced patrols have been strengthened ahead of the Yuletide season to ensure protection.
In Kogi State, police were forced to issue a statement urging residents to disregard rumors of a planned bandit attack in Kogi East. Police spokesperson CSP William Ovye Aya described the circulating social media messages as "unverifiable" and lacking any element of truth.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, called for a united front in tackling insecurity during a sympathy visit to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago. The IGP described the abduction of pupils from St Mary's Catholic Schools in Papiri as "troubling and heartbreaking" and disclosed that security agencies have already recovered 50 of the abducted children.
International Criticism and Rescue Success
Human Rights Watch has faulted the government's response to rising school kidnappings, urging Nigerian authorities to act urgently to secure the safe release of students and teachers. Nigerian researcher Anietie Ewang stated: "These mass school kidnappings once again lay bare the deliberate targeting of students, teachers, and schools in Nigeria's deteriorating security environment."
In a successful operation, security forces secured the release of 38 worshippers abducted from Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State. According to Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, operatives of the Department of State Services and the military deployed precision intelligence and coordinated engagement to pressure the bandits into releasing their captives unharmed.
The security crisis continues to test the Tinubu administration as it faces mounting pressure from both opposition and within its own party to take more decisive action against the wave of violence affecting multiple regions across Nigeria.
