Wase raises alarm as bandits threaten to kidnap lawmakers, seeks review of Presidential Security Directive

By Ade Ade

A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, has warned of escalating threats against federal lawmakers, revealing that bandits are now issuing direct threats to abduct members of the National Assembly.

Wase raised the concern during the House’s ongoing debate on Nigeria’s worsening security situation. He urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his recent directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs.

President Tinubu had instructed that police personnel previously deployed for VIP protection be reassigned to regular policing duties nationwide. The decision followed a high-level security meeting in Abuja with the Service Chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Under the reviewed arrangement, VIPs requiring security escorts must now seek armed protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The Presidency said the move was aimed at bolstering policing capacity, especially in communities facing severe manpower shortages and persistent security threats.

However, Wase insisted the policy needs clearer guidelines. He recalled a past incident where Boko Haram suspects were allegedly discovered on recruitment lists of both the Army and the Police—an example he said underscores the dangers of infiltration and the necessity for more stringent procedures.

The lawmaker also called for a clear definition of who qualifies as a “VIP” before the withdrawal policy is fully enforced.

Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis, one of the country’s most persistent security challenges, continues to deepen. More than 1,500 schoolchildren have been abducted since 2014, beginning with the infamous Chibok schoolgirls’ kidnapping in which 276 students were seized.

The situation deteriorated sharply last week. According to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), at least 300 students and staff were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Niger State, with about 250 still missing. The attack marked the third mass abduction within one week and prompted President Tinubu to cancel his trip to the G20 summit in South Africa.

There was a brief moment of relief when 24 schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State were freed after more than a week in captivity. Armed men had attacked their school on November 17, killing two staff members and abducting 25 students. One girl escaped earlier, bringing the total rescued to 24.

President Tinubu praised security agencies for what he described as a “swift response,” although details surrounding the students’ release remain unclear.

With over 250 children still missing from last week’s Catholic school attack, Nigeria’s security crisis continues to escalate, prompting growing calls for urgent and decisive action from the highest levels of government.