A member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Jafaru Mohammad Ali, has issued a passionate plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to intervene urgently as terrorists tighten their grip on communities in Niger State.

Addressing journalists after the House adopted his motion on the worsening security situation, Ali invoked the historical and political ties between Tinubu and the Borgu Emirate, where the President holds the traditional title of “Jagaban of Borgu.”

“We gave him the title; we supported him from the beginning. We delivered every polling unit for him,” the lawmaker said.

“How can he abandon us now? My people are suffering. We don’t want anything from him except peace.”

Ali lamented that military personnel deployed to the crisis-ridden communities remain poorly equipped and are forced to confront heavily armed insurgents with inadequate tools.

“How can soldiers in open vehicles confront criminals hiding under cover?” he questioned.

The legislator raised the alarm that bandits have overrun Kainji National Park, one of the country’s most important conservation areas, forcing rangers to flee and converting tourism facilities into their base of operations.

“The park is gone. Nobody can access it anymore,” he declared.

He detailed a wave of killings, mass displacement, and forced cooperation agreements between residents and armed groups as communities struggle to survive the worsening siege.

Moving his motion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, Ali cited several recent tragedies, including the November 21 kidnapping of 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara LGA; the November 4 ambush on his convoy; and the November 2 killings in Gidan Guga.

He warned that the criminals are now using Kainji National Park as a command hub to launch attacks across Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, and even into Benin Republic, adding that many of the fighters are foreign nationals moving through a network of linked forests.

The lawmaker urged the House to direct the Chief of Defence Staff to deploy better-equipped troops and establish Forward Operating Bases in Lumma, Audu Fari, Agwara, and Mago.

He also called for NEMA and the Refugee Commission to support displaced residents and requested that NALDA and the Agriculture Ministry convert the Kainji corridor into a productive agricultural zone once secured.

Ali recently survived an assassination attempt when his convoy was ambushed along the Lumma–Babanna road.

One soldier and six others were killed in the attack before security operatives evacuated him to safety.

Former Senator Shehu Sani has called on northern political leaders to address the root causes of insecurity in the region instead of exploiting it for political gain, particularly as the 2027 general elections approach.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Open Heart Foundation and Women Empowerment Centre in Kaduna, Sani criticised what he described as the “political hypocrisy” of Northern leaders, highlighting that insecurity has plagued the region for over a decade.

He identified factors such as the almajiri system, mass illiteracy, poverty, and underdevelopment as key drivers of the crisis.

“The terrorists in the North-East are northerners. The bandits in the North-West speak Hausa, Fulfulde, and Kanuri, not Mandarin or French. This is our problem, and only we can solve it,” Sani said.

He also urged civic groups to hold governments accountable without being co-opted for political battles.

“Continue to speak out, but never allow yourselves to be used to undermine our security agencies,” he said.

Recalling attacks over the past 15 years, Sani said, “Northern Nigeria has been a theatre of bloodshed. Schools, churches, mosques, villages, nothing has been spared since 2013.”

He warned that insurgent networks now operate across West Africa with growing boldness.

Sani also condemned political actors who, he claims, celebrate attacks to weaken the government or use insecurity as leverage ahead of the 2027 elections.

He criticised former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai for allegedly appeasing bandits and highlighted the irony of his actions, including withdrawing his son from a local school due to insecurity.

Despite ongoing challenges, Sani acknowledged progress under the current Kaduna State administration, led by Governor Uba Sani, citing improvements in religious harmony and security in flashpoints like Birnin Gwari.

He also credited President Bola Tinubu’s government for measurable achievements in addressing insecurity.

Sani stressed that solutions must come from within: “The United States will not save us. Europe will not. Our salvation lies in strengthening our armed forces and uniting as citizens. Insecurity does not stop at borders.”

He warned that as elections near, attacks on schools, churches, and mosques may increase, noting that some actors see bloodshed as a route to power.

The Open Heart Foundation and Women Skill Empowerment Centre expressed deep concern over the abduction of students and insecurity nationwide, calling on authorities and citizens to ensure all victims are safely returned.

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, has revealed that individuals suspected to be Boko Haram members and other criminals were once shortlisted for recruitment into the Nigerian Army and Police.

Wase made the disclosure on Wednesday during a special plenary session convened to address the escalating security crisis across the country.

The lawmaker, who represents Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State, said the alarming discovery underscores the deep infiltration of Nigeria’s security architecture by criminally inclined persons.

He added that the claim could be corroborated by former House Defence Committee Chairman and current FCT Committee Chairman, Muktar Betara.

“There were recruitment exercises where names of known Boko Haram members appeared on the shortlist. Armed robbers and other criminals were also discovered among those cleared for the Army and Police,” Wase stated.

He warned against indiscriminate endorsements for military and police recruitment, stressing that only credible and trustworthy candidates should be recommended.

Recounting personal losses, Wase said he had lost a brother, cousin, and nephew to terrorist attacks, noting that the North Central region bears “about 52 per cent of Nigeria’s insecurity burden.”

He also narrated how one of his younger brothers pleaded to be relocated from their violence-ravaged community.

Wase further called for a review of the presidential directive withdrawing police personnel from VIP protection duties.

While he acknowledged the policy’s intent, he argued that its categories must be clearly defined to avoid exposing important officials to danger.

Speaking for the North West Caucus, Sada Soli described insecurity in the region as “complex and layered,” driven by a blend of criminality, environmental pressure, governance failure, and deepening poverty.

He urged a comprehensive solution combining kinetic action with governance reforms and economic development.

For the North East Caucus, Betara described the region as “ground zero of terrorism and insurgency,” recalling tragedies ranging from the 2015 Baga massacre to numerous bomb attacks that have claimed civilian and military lives.

He called for coordinated strategy and renewed commitment to halt the spread of violence.

South South Caucus representative, Solomon Bob, said successive administrations lacked the political will to confront insecurity.

He criticised the tendency to placate terrorists rather than enforce the law, arguing that downplaying terrorism as mere banditry undermines the gravity of the crisis.

Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Kafilat Ogbara, lamented the disproportionate impact of insecurity on women and children, citing the recent abductions in Papiri and Kamba.

She described the incidents as “a breach of the state’s core obligation to protect lives and property.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the Federal Government’s handling of kidnappers, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of treating terrorists and bandits with excessive leniency.

Atiku’s comments came through his spokesman, Paul Ibe, shortly after the presidency announced the release of schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State, alongside other students freed in Niger State and 38 worshippers from Kwara State, reportedly without ransom payments.

In a statement, Ibe said:
“Under Tinubu, terrorists and bandits have effectively become an alternative government negotiating, collecting ransom, and walking away unharmed, while the presidency celebrates their ‘compliance.'”

He added:
“No serious nation congratulates itself for negotiating with terrorists or allowing abductors to escape and strike again. If security agencies truly had eyes on these criminals, letting them go is a national disgrace that raises questions of complicity.”

Ibe described comments by the President’s Special Adviser on Information, Bayo Onanuga, as an attempt to whitewash government failures.

Atiku stressed that the release of abductees should not be seen as a “trophy moment” but as a warning that kidnappers now operate freely, negotiate openly, and dictate terms, while the government issues statements to save face.

He questioned the government’s approach:
“If security agencies were tracking these kidnappers in real time, why were they not arrested or neutralized immediately? Why is the government boasting about talking to terrorists instead of dismantling their networks? Has kidnapping become just a routine phone call between criminals and state officials?”

Atiku noted that Nigerians need real protection, not public relations statements celebrating temporary releases of abductees.

Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu played a significant role in teaching him the values of tolerance and forbearance in politics.

Metuh, who marked his 60th birthday on Friday, reflected on his past as one of Tinubu’s fiercest critics during his time as PDP spokesperson.

He explained that despite that history, it was Tinubu who showed unexpected personal concern when Metuh faced arrest and prosecution.

“In my days as National Publicity Secretary, there was no political figure I criticised more than then–Senator Bola Tinubu,” he said.

“We saw him as the driving force of the opposition at the time, and many of our strongest press statements were directed at him.”

Metuh said he was taken aback when the same Tinubu he had opposed reached out to support him during his legal and health challenges, showing concern for his family and well-being.

“That experience taught me a deep lesson,” he added. “Tinubu showed me tolerance. He showed me forbearance. I believe leaders, whether in office or not, must learn to embody these virtues.”

Metuh, who now advocates for national unity and reconciliation in politics, said his experience demonstrates how understanding and empathy can help rebuild trust in the nation’s political space.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday strongly criticised the Federal Government for entering into negotiations with bandits to secure the release of 24 students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.

The condemnation came from a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers known as “House to the Rescue,” who described the government’s decision, revealed by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, as a betrayal of public trust and a serious threat to national security.

During a special plenary session held on Tuesday, members lamented the worsening insecurity across the country, noting that Nigerians now live in constant fear as kidnappers and armed groups operate unchecked.

In a statement endorsed by lawmakers representing all six geopolitical zones, the group declared:

“The House to the Rescue unequivocally condemns the Federal Government’s engagement with bandits and criminal elements behind the ongoing wave of abductions across Nigeria.”

The lawmakers accused the government of empowering criminals rather than protecting citizens.

“At a time when Nigerians are pleading for safety, the government has chosen to negotiate with those who abduct children, terrorise communities, and challenge the authority of the Nigerian state,” they said.

They argued that President Bola Tinubu’s security strategy amounted to “an abdication of leadership.”

The statement noted that fresh kidnapping incidents in Kano, Kwara, Kebbi, and other states have left communities traumatised. Instead of decisive action, the lawmakers said, the government had offered “silence, excuses, and clandestine concessions to violent groups.”

“No responsible nation rewards criminality with dialogue. Negotiating with bandits has never yielded lasting peace anywhere in the world,” the coalition warned.

To support their position, they cited global examples where talks with violent non-state actors backfired:

Colombia: Negotiations with FARC reportedly increased ransom kidnappings and strengthened the rebels.

Mexico: Secret contacts with drug cartels worsened insecurity and emboldened gangs.

Afghanistan: Concessions, including prisoner exchanges, enabled the Taliban to regroup and eventually topple the entire government.

According to the lawmakers, Nigeria would face similar consequences if it continues to negotiate with criminal groups.

They warned that dialogue with bandits only legitimises their operations, encourages more abductions, and weakens public confidence in the country’s security institutions.

This approach, they said, has already created “a dangerous business model where abductors seize citizens and expect government negotiators instead of security forces.”

The coalition demanded that the Federal Government:

1. End all negotiations with bandits immediately.

2. Adopt intelligence-led military and security operations to rescue abductees.

3. Present a comprehensive national security strategy with clear accountability measures.

4. Subject all unofficial negotiators to National Assembly oversight.

The statement was signed by:
Muhammed Soba (North West), Zakari Mohammed (North Central), Olasupo Abiodun (South West), Sadiq Ibrahim (North East), Uko Nkole (South East), and Bassey Ewa (South South).