The Niger State House of Assembly on Tuesday warned it would halt all legislative activities unless the federal government takes urgent action to tackle rampant banditry, following the abduction of students from St. Mary’s Catholic Missionary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.
Lawmakers unanimously condemned the Friday attack, describing the security situation as alarming and beyond control.
The motion, raised by Hon. Mohammed Nura Agwara of the Agwara constituency, drew attention to the tragic kidnapping and called for the immediate rescue of the victims.
Speaker Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji said the state is effectively under siege, deterring investors and forcing contractors to abandon road projects. He painted a grim picture of his Mariga constituency, where over 50 communities, including his ward, have been displaced, leaving farmers begging for food after abandoning their lands.
“The current security situation has eroded all efforts to transform the state,” Sarkindaji said. “If schools and markets can close, we can shut down legislative business until it’s addressed.”
He criticized the inaction despite known bandit routes, urging the deployment of troops along these paths. “These routes are known to security agents, yet nothing is done,” he said, warning that the captives would likely be moved to Zamfara via the same corridors.
In a four-point resolution, the assembly called on the federal government to mobilize resources for the students’ rescue, deploy troops to key bandit routes, and work with Niger’s national assembly members to escalate the matter.
Lawmakers vowed to suspend operations within two weeks if no concrete measures are taken.
