Alarmed by a surge in school kidnappings, Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Wednesday demanded urgent action to address the deteriorating security situation in the country.
Lawmakers, led by Hon. Billy Osawaru, expressed particular concern about the abduction of students from schools in several northern states, including Borno, Nasarawa, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna. A recent kidnapping of nearly 300 students from a Kaduna school served as a grim reminder of the escalating crisis.
Osawaru emphasized that “If no drastic measure is taken to curb the escalating insecurity situation in the country and in the schools, entire schools may end up being shut down due to the activities of these miscreants and hoodlums.”
The House passed a resolution mandating its relevant committees to work with security chiefs to develop a comprehensive plan. This plan should include immediate measures to safeguard schools and long-term strategies to tackle the broader security challenges plaguing Nigeria.
The resolution also recommends exploring the possibility of involving private-security firms alongside existing law enforcement agencies. This additional layer of protection is envisioned as a potential deterrent against future kidnappings.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
