… commend recent increase in salaries of Armed Forces
By Gloria Ikibah
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has called on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate and decisive action to end the worsening terrorism and banditry attacks across Northern Nigeria. 
The caucus said the scale of killings and abductions had become intolerable, with Nigerians being attacked in their homes, farms, communities and places of worship.
In a statement signed by the Minority Leader, Rep. Fredrick Agbedi, and Spokesperson, Rep. Afam Victor Ogene, on Thursday, the caucus said the country needed more than condemnation after every attack.
“This is no longer a situation that can be addressed principally through statements of condemnation after every attack. Nigeria requires a sustained, coordinated and overwhelming security response,” it said.
The lawmakers cited recent attacks in Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina and Borno states, saying dozens of Nigerians had been killed while many others remained in captivity.
They urged President Tinubu to replicate on a larger scale the intelligence-led operation that secured the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“We are calling on the President to lock down the affected theatres of operation, dominate the territory and sweep the forests, hideouts and criminal enclaves where terrorists and bandits operate.
“Such an operation must be intelligence-led, professionally executed and sustained until the criminal elements are neutralised and the abducted citizens rescued,” the caucus said.
The caucus clarified that its call for a lockdown was targeted at the operational areas of terrorists and bandits, rather than innocent Nigerians.
“We are not asking the President to lock down innocent Nigerians. We are asking the Commander-in-Chief to lock down the operational space of terrorists and bandits, deny them freedom of movement, cut off their supply lines and communications and deploy overwhelming force against those who have turned parts of the North into killing fields and centres of mass abduction,” it said.
The lawmakers also urged the President to visit Zamfara State and travel to Illela to engage directly with communities affected by insecurity.
“Nigerians need to see their President physically present in the places where their fellow citizens are being killed and abducted. Leadership in a national emergency requires visibility, courage and direct engagement,” they said.
On funding, the caucus asked the Federal Government to consider drawing $5 billion from the nation’s external reserves for an extraordinary security intervention if necessary.
“If funding is an issue, the government should draw $5 billion from the nation’s external reserves for an extraordinary national security intervention,” it said.
The lawmakers welcomed the recent increase in the salaries of members of the Armed Forces but urged Tinubu to immediately forward the necessary appropriation amendments and supplementary budget to the National Assembly.
“The welfare of our soldiers cannot be subjected to avoidable procedural delays when the nation is at war with terrorists and bandits,” the caucus said.
The Minority Caucus also called for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that his continued detention had taken on the character of political persecution.
“We therefore regard Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as a political prisoner and demand his immediate release.
“The fight against corruption must be a fight against corruption, not a fight against political opponents,” it said.
The lawmakers said Nigerians were tired of condolences and promises, demanding concrete action to protect citizens.
“Nigerians do not need more condolences; they need action. They do not need promises; they need security.
“President Tinubu has the constitutional authority, the military capacity and the national mandate to act. He must act now.
“The bloodshed in Northern Nigeria must stop. The abducted must be rescued. The terrorists and bandits must be defeated. And every Nigerian, regardless of where they live, must be able to sleep, farm, travel, worship and send their children to school without fear,” the caucus stated.”
