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…urge President Tinubu to intensify ongoing security operations, adopt a more robust strategy

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has summoned the nation’s Service Chiefs and the Minister of Finance to explain how funds appropriated and released for defence and security operations have been utilised amid worsening insecurity across the country.

This resolution followed heated deliberations on the growing wave of banditry, kidnappings and violent attacks affecting communities, schools and places of worship, particularly across the North-West.

Lawmakers also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intensify ongoing security operations and adopt a more robust strategy to confront armed bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups terrorising parts of the country.

The resolution was reached after the House considered separate motions highlighting the deteriorating security situation and the continued attacks on citizens despite significant government spending on security over the years.

Opening the debate, Rep. Ibe Osonwa raised concerns over the increasing number of abductions and attacks on educational institutions, warning that the trend was worsening the challenge of out-of-school children while exposing communities to fear and uncertainty.

He argued that despite substantial public resources committed annually to defence and security agencies, the nation’s response to insecurity appeared largely reactive and insufficient to address the scale of the crisis.

Contributing to the debate, Rep. Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi drew attention to the persistent attacks in Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West, describing the situation as a major humanitarian challenge fuelled by armed banditry, kidnappings and organised criminal violence.

The lawmaker cited the recent abduction of seven students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, in Zamfara State, as well as the continued captivity of two senior lecturers from the institution despite reported ransom payments.

He also highlighted recurring attacks across several states, including Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Jigawa, noting that many rural communities had been forced to abandon their homes as a result of persistent violence and insecurity.

During the debate, members questioned why security challenges continue to escalate despite repeated assurances from security agencies and consistent budgetary allocations to the defence sector.

Many lawmakers argued that Nigerians deserve greater accountability regarding the utilisation of funds earmarked for military operations and security interventions.

The House subsequently resolved to invite the Service Chiefs and the Minister of Finance to appear before lawmakers and provide a detailed breakdown of security-related expenditures, funding releases and the outcomes achieved from those investments.

The planned engagement is expected to provide lawmakers with an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of government spending on security and identify possible gaps in the nation’s response to growing threats.

Consequently, the House resolved to invite the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and other relevant security chiefs, alongside the Minister of Finance, to brief lawmakers on the exact amount of money appropriated and released for security operations and explain the impact of the expenditure on the fight against insecurity.

Members said the appearance would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to understand how security funds have been utilised and why the desired results have yet to be achieved.

In addition, lawmakers urged the Minister of Defence to deploy more troops and operational equipment to Zamfara State and other affected North-West states to strengthen ongoing military operations.

The House further called for non-kinetic approaches to addressing insecurity, urging the Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Environment and Humanitarian Affairs to implement programmes capable of tackling the socio-economic conditions that fuel criminality.

The Committees on Defence, National Security and Intelligence, Army and other relevant committees were mandated to oversee implementation of the resolutions and report back to the House within two weeks.

In a strongly worded warning, lawmakers maintained that continued insecurity despite massive security spending raises serious questions about accountability and effectiveness within the nation’s security architecture.

They stressed that Nigerians deserve to know how public funds allocated for security have been spent and why banditry, kidnappings and terrorist attacks continue to threaten lives, livelihoods and national stability.

The development reflects increasing concern within the National Assembly over the country’s security situation, particularly in regions where bandit attacks, kidnappings and violent crimes have continued despite ongoing military and law enforcement operations.

Lawmakers expressed hope that greater transparency, improved coordination and stronger security measures would help restore public confidence and bring relief to communities affected by the persistent violence.