Reps Urge IGP To Rescue 47 Abducted Corps Members, Varsity Students

The House of Representatives has called for the urgent tackling of insecurity in the entire northern region, particularly Northeast and Northwest. The lawmakers particularly asked the Inspector-General of Police to ensure the rescue of kidnapped seven corps members and 40 students currently held captive by suspected kidnappers.

The green chamber also called for a more holistic investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the banditry and insecurity in the Northwest, especially its connection to illegal mining.

It asked the federal government to deploy additional security personnel to the hotbeds of the region and the House committee on legislative compliance to ensure compliance.

The House further mandated the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu to organise a security conference to ensure all hands remain on deck to tackle the continuous menace of banditry/insecurity.

These resolutions followed the adoption of amendments to a motion on the need to address the escalating and persistent insecurity and banditry in the Northwest region of Nigeria, moved by Hon. Kabiru Mai-Palace from Zamfara at plenary on Tuesday.

Hon. Kabiru in leading the debate stressed the increase in violence by bandits in the Northeastern region of Nigeria that culminated in the abduction of some female students in the University of Zamfara State, as well as the abduction of some National Youth Service Corps members travelling to Sokoto state.

He mentioned other incidents of violence against innocent Nigerians within different States of the region.

The lawmaker called on the federal government to ensure the release of all abductees and ensure the perpetrators are apprehended.

The House urged the IGP and other security agencies to secure the immediate and safe release of the seven abducted corps members and 40 female students of the university in Zamfara State.

It mandated the committee on national security and intelligence to ensure compliance and report back within one week for further legislative action.

This was a sequel to the adoption of amendments to a motion sponsored by Hon. Unyime Idenm from Akwa Ibom and nine others.

Moving the motion Idenm also noted that on August 17 2023, eight corps members from Akwa Ibom State were abducted by gunmen in Zamfara State, on their way to the place of primary assignment (PPA) with a current demand of N2 million.

“Aware that in May 2023, seven corps members were kidnapped in Rivers State on their way from the orientation camp in Ondo State and released after paying ransom.