•House of Representatives
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has proposed the withdrawal of $5 billion from Nigeria’s external reserves to fund an extraordinary national security intervention to tackle terrorism and banditry in Northern Nigeria.
The caucus made the proposal in a statement signed by its Leader, Hon. Fredrick Agbedi, and Spokesperson, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, amid a wave of killings, abductions and attacks across several northern states, reports The Guardian.
The lawmakers called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take immediate, decisive and comprehensive action to halt the bloodshed, restore public confidence and reclaim communities taken over by terrorists, bandits and criminal gangs.
They described the scale and frequency of attacks as intolerable, noting that Nigerians were being killed in their homes, farms, communities and places of worship, while children were being abducted from schools.
The caucus cited recent attacks in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Borgu in Niger State, Kebbe in Sokoto State, Kaura in Kaduna State and parts of Katsina State.
It expressed concern over children abducted from schools in Borno State, saying some families were still waiting for their children to be rescued months after the incidents.
The lawmakers said the situation could no longer be addressed principally through statements condemning attacks after they occurred.
“Nigeria requires a sustained, coordinated and overwhelming security response,” they said.
The caucus urged Tinubu to replicate on a larger scale the intelligence-led strategy that led to the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
It called for affected theatres of operation to be locked down, with security forces dominating the territory and conducting sustained operations in forests, hideouts and criminal enclaves where terrorists and bandits operate.
“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,” the caucus said.
The lawmakers urged the president to visit Zamfara State and proceed to Illela, engaging directly with communities that have suffered from terrorism and banditry.
According to them, presidential presence in affected communities would demonstrate leadership and reassure Nigerians facing persistent insecurity.
On funding, the caucus said the government should provide whatever resources were necessary to prosecute the war against terrorists and bandits.
“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 argued that protecting citizens should remain the government’s foremost responsibility, saying no expenditure could be more fundamental than safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
The caucus welcomed the recent increase in the salaries of members of the Armed Forces, describing it as an important measure to improve the welfare, morale and motivation of soldiers.
It, however, urged Tinubu to immediately forward to the National Assembly the necessary amendment to the 2026 Appropriation Act and the required Supplementary Appropriation Bill to provide the legal and financial framework for implementing the salary increase.
The lawmakers said they were ready to reconvene immediately, if necessary, to consider the measures, stressing that the welfare of soldiers should not suffer avoidable procedural delays while the country battles terrorists and bandits.
The Minority Caucus further demanded the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, whose continued detention it described as political persecution.
It questioned the consistency of the federal government’s anti-corruption campaign, arguing that the involvement of individuals facing corruption allegations in the APC Presidential Campaign Council had raised concerns about the credibility of the campaign.
The lawmakers insisted that the fight against corruption should not be turned into a tool for targeting political opponents, while reaffirming their commitment to the rule of law and due process.
The caucus said Nigerians needed action rather than condolences, urging the President to anticipate threats, take the battle to criminal elements and protect citizens before attacks occur.
“President Tinubu has the constitutional authority, the military capacity and the national mandate to act. He must act now,” the lawmakers said.
