The House of Representatives has set Thursday aside for an extensive national security debate as killings, mass abductions and violent attacks continue to escalate across the country.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen made the announcement during Tuesday’s plenary, stressing that the worsening security situation demands swift and coordinated action from lawmakers and security agencies.
The move follows renewed global attention on Nigeria’s security challenges after recent remarks by United States President Donald Trump, who claimed that “record numbers of Christians” were being killed in the country and warned that the U.S. “would not allow it to continue,” even threatening “fast, vicious, and sweet” military action.
Although Trump’s assertions have been widely disputed, insecurity has remained pervasive.
Tension briefly surfaced in the chamber when Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda attempted to present a motion on the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the killing of a military general. However, Abbas stepped the motion down, citing the House’s earlier decision to reserve Thursday exclusively for deliberations on security.
“We are deeply saddened by what has happened – very unfortunate incidents,” the Speaker said.
“I announced earlier that we will dedicate the whole of Thursday to security-related matters, and this particular event is one of the reasons that informed our decision.”
Abbas urged security agencies to intensify their efforts and reassess their operational strategies.
“I call on all security agencies to please step up all actions and strategies to ensure the lives and properties of Nigerians are secured,” he added.
He further directed lawmakers to prepare comprehensive reports from their constituencies ahead of the debate.
“Every member is invited to make submissions on insecurity in his state or constituency. Thursday will give us the opportunity to hear, in detail, all the security issues bedevilling our constituencies and our states,” the Speaker said.
