Reps urge FG to secure release of 136 abducted Niger students

The House of Representatives Thursday called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to secure release of the 136 abducted students of Tegina, Niger state.


The House in a resolution called for the deployment of drones and helicopters to track the bandits in their hideouts, as well as put in place effective strategies and counter measures to arrest the worsening insecurity in the Niger state, and across the country.


This followed a motion that was brought under matters of urgent public importance by the member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, Hon. Saidu Abdullahi, on behalf of all the members of the House from Niger state, urging the National Security Adviser, the Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to re-jig the security architecture.


The House further urged the security agencies to deploy modern technology in identifying illegal camps of bandits and develop a mechanism that will ensure effective collaboration and mutual synergy among themselves, especially at ensuring that the Department of State Security Service (DSS) provides actionable and timely intelligence to sister agencies in the fight against banditry, insurgency and terrorism.


The lawmaker stated that Niger state has been making critical headlines in the news due to the worsening activities of bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram elements in the past few months. He added that “only for these few days, a prince from Kontagora and others were killed; serial abductions of innocent people from Suleja local government were reported and bandits were seen operating along Zungeru, Tegina and Kontagora axis of Niger state for days and nights without resistance.”