The Senate has issued a strong call to state governments to actively complement the Federal Government’s anti-terrorism efforts, warning that state governors must immediately deploy their massive resources to halt the escalating wave of banditry and targeted school kidnappings.
The resolution followed a motion titled, “Urgent Need for State Governments to Complement the Role of the Federal Government in Addressing the Security Situation in Nigeria,” sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) during Thursday’s plenary session.
Lawmakers expressed deep concern over the increasingly daring nature of criminal networks targeting vulnerable academic institutions, noting that national security requires a unified, multi-tiered response.
Key Legislative Recommendations:
Fast-Tracking State Police: The Senate urged President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, and state governors to swiftly fine-tune and implement the administrative framework required to establish state police forces.
Targeting Ransom Banking: The upper chamber called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to introduce stringent new regulations on cashless transactions, specifically designed to choke off the financial pipelines of bandits who demand and move massive ransom payments.
Zero Negotiations & Tighter Borders: The Senate explicitly criticized sub-national authorities who negotiate with terrorists, advocating instead for absolute non-negotiation policies, stricter border controls, and aggressive digital tracking of criminals who host live cash “giveaways” on social media.
Leading the debate, Senator Karimi cited a devastating assault on June 10 at a secondary school in Iluke-Bunu, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. During the attack, heavily armed men killed the school’s vice-principal, a teacher, and a local resident on the spot while attempting to mass-kidnap students sitting for their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
“This happened just a day after a similar attack on the private property of a constituent in Odo-Ere, Yagba West Local Government Area of the state,” Karimi revealed, emphasizing that schools are increasingly becoming primary targets.
Lawmakers noted that the Kogi West tragedies reflect a disturbing nationwide pattern, referencing unresolved abductions of students and teachers in Oyo State and various other regions.
The Senate maintained that while the Federal Government coordinates national security strategy, state governors sit on significant security apparatuses that must be deployed aggressively at the community level.
The upper chamber reiterated its stance that allowing criminals to operate unchecked online or negotiating with them locally only emboldens syndicates. Moving forward, the Senate demands a synchronized offensive combining local state policing, federal intelligence tracking, and strict financial regulations to permanently dismantle bandit operations.
